2022, Domaine Frederic Esmonin, RUCHOTTES-CHAMBERTIN, Grand CruHere too there is enough wood to notice while remaining admirably subtle on the very Gevrey nose of truffle, forest floor, sauvage and spicy red berry aromas. There is slightly better vibrancy and certainly more evident minerality though the dusty and youthfully austere is fairly grippy and a bit short. Again, the tannins seem ripe so as with the Clos Prieur, the grippiness is likely due to the recent bottling but even so, I prefer to remain cautious.

black and red berry layers

The 2020 Figeac is incredibly polished and refined

velvety and layered

I admire the precision of this Haut-Médoc

It's an elegant Bordeaux-style red blend from spectacular vineyards on the cool climate hillsides of Puente Alto

in all likelihood

it should be forgotten for 4-5 years and drunk over the following two decades

40% one year barrels

A slight reduction

in a vintage where this was an effective balance to the hot and dry summer

the 2021 is a tour de force from Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau and his team

98 Antonio Galloni