2015 Echezeaux

(80% new oak): Bright dark red. Deeper-pitched on the nose than the Brûlées, conveying an almost exotic ripeness to its sweet, liqueur-like kirsch aroma. Wonderfully dense and large-scaled (this cold site really benefited from the heat of the year), offering distinctly chewy, sweet flavors of raspberry and black cherry. A powerful wine with serious tannic clout as well as superb length and lift. Again, a big success for this cuvée .

The 2015 Echézeaux Grand Cru was demonstrating a pleasant, subtle reduction like the Les Brûlées that after racking will disappear by the time of bottling. I like the delineation and clarity here, perhaps more than the Les Brûlées. There is a spark - an edge, so to say. The palate is medium-bodied, a mixture of red and black fruit, crisp and well balanced with a slightly savory, dried blood finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a well-made Echézeaux, one of the best I have tasted from the domaine in recent years.

Cask sample. 50% whole bunch. 80% new oak. Quite a bit of tension on the nose. Very firm on the finish but with fruit that manages to be both opulent and refreshing in between. Good lift and precision. Very pure and clean even if it’s a tad austere at the moment. (JR)