2002 Vosne Romanee Les Brulees

Good full red. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, leather and spicy soil tones, suggesting higher alcohol than the 2003 example. Less rich and silky than the 2003 yet a bit broader, with very good juicy cut to its tightly wound flavors of dark berries, minerals, rose petal and noble herbs. Finishes with bright, dusty, slightly peppery tannins and very good length. Still evolving, and likely to merit an even higher score if it puts on more weight in bottle.

This is already highly alluring and seductive with its beautifully layered spicy Asian spice box nose and exuberant black fruit aromas that complement the big, robust and muscular flavors that are rich and generous, all wrapped in an incredibly persistent finish. The '02 Brûlées has a really lovely texture and the firm structure is almost entirely buried and buffered by the massive extract. In sum, this is incredibly impressive though note that it is still some years away from its apogee.

Bright ruby-red. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, espresso, mocha, leather, game and a strong minerality. Fat, silky and sweet; mouthfilling without being at all heavy, thanks to the wine's solid underlying structure. Then very long and fine-grained on the back end, with rather strict tannins contributing to the impression of grip. I'd give this terrific wine at least eight or ten years in the cellar.