2015 Gevrey Chambertin Les Songes

Cask sample. Two oldest parcels: 80- to 90-year-old vines. Bright cherry red. Looks so healthy. Subtly perfumed with dark-red fruit. Lightly and nicely dusty/mineral. Chewy, sweet tannins. Dry, paper-fine finish. Super-elegant. (JH)

From 80- or 90-year-old vines, the 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin "Les Songes" Vieilles Vignes was aged in 30% new oak, but includes more whole bunch fruit (60%). Here we move into more black fruit territory: blackcurrant, bilberry and touches of dark cherry, a subtle orange rind scent that becomes more intense as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with gently grippy tannin, vibrant on the entry with good mineralité, hints of balsamic and spice lending complexity to the very composed and refined finish. It constitutes another great Gevrey from Heresztyn-Mazzini.

(this is actually a blend of En Songes and Les Geuelepines that most people would not know isn’t exclusively from En Songes given the very close similarity of the names). A background whisper of wood sets off an overtly floral nose, and in particular violet, that is composed by notes of plum, dark currant and plenty of earth. There is impressive mid-palate concentration to the more refined medium-bodied flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on to the sappy, firm and beautifully complex finish. Worth considering.