2016 Echezeaux

The 2016 Echézeaux Grand Cru was 95% impacted by frost, and Michel Mallard was not expecting to make a single barrel. Actually, he managed to get two barrels because the second generation buds started growing with alacrity. It was destemmed by hand, and one of the barrels is new. It has a very pure bouquet with dark cherries, cassis and violet scents, something almost “serene” about these aromatics, belying the “trauma” of the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, almost symmetrical in terms of focus, sorbet-fresh toward the finish with just a faint hint of blood orange and citrus lemon. This actually challenges the Grands Echézeaux, and it will be fascinating to see them age side by side.

Yield just 8 hl/ha yield. Two pièces. Combe d’Orveau. 95% frozen. A small proportion of fruit was second crop. Very dark crimson. Very attractive alluring nose. Really quite sumptuous. Fresh and fruity – not a note one usually writes about a grand cru – but with very marked ripe tannins underneath. Ambitious. Muscular under the pretty tight, focused fruit. This domaine definitely goes its own way. Fruit almost hides the tannins. Bone dry, rather minerally finish and then pretty persistent. Just slightly but not fatally bitter on the end. (JR)