2019 Morey St Denis Les Millandes

The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millands ler Cru has a relatively simple, slightly reduced nose, with black rather than red fruit, briar and light pencil shaving scents. It's a bit reserved-maybe in a dumb phase? The palate is medium-bodied, with a peppery entry, good weight, fine acidity with some grip. Maybe, like its peers, it feels a little "distant" compared to the more generous and expressive Chambolle-Musignys in the previous flight. A bit grumpy? Give it two or three years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Bright rich purple in colour. Blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Bounding energy, not the most subtle of wines, a drier finish but the fruit will cover that easily. Some alcohol though. Ardaseal closure.

Once again the wood treatment is generous to the point of masking the nuance of the very earthy liqueur-like aromas of plum, black currant and subtle floral wisps. There is outstanding volume to the big-bodied and overtly muscular flavors that coat the palate with dry extract while delivering excellent length on the dusty and built-to-age finish. This is typical Millandes in that it's going to need extended cellaring to shed its firm tannic spine.