2011 Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques

The 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques has a very expressive bouquet, again quite refined and natural with fragrant dark cherry, strawberry fruit mingling with dried rose petals and sea spray. The palate is very sensual on the satin-like opening that builds in the mouth, revving up toward a gorgeous, harmonious finish of dark berry fruit mixed with a touch of spice on the aftertaste that lends it length. Wonderful. Drink 2015-2025. Claude Dugat guided me through his 2011s on a blissful July morning, the flowers in such bloom that at one point he questioned whether I was wearing any scent. For the record, I have never worn aftershave in my life. Claude’s wines are deftly made, occasionally lifted by the new oak to the extent where I feel less would be more, but still highly enjoyable. Importer: Robert Kracher Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 239-1275

Bright, dark red. Wild small red berries, soil tones and flowers on the complex, classic Gevrey nose. Silky-smooth and fine-grained in the mouth but at the same time precise and perfumed, with cherry and saline notes leading to a juicy, rising finish featuring round tannins and excellent lift. Lovely length here.

This is slightly riper and certainly more complex with the same elegance to the plum, violet and dark berry fruit aromas that are liberally laced with warm earth nuances There is excellent phenolic maturity to the cool, pure and mineral-driven flavors that terminate in a long, serious and borderline rustic finish that displays a hint of salinity. This should mature well but it's sufficiently robust at present to require a few years in the cellar first. This is also good stuff and worth your attention. Tasted: Jan 15, 2014. Drink: 2021+