2016 Chambolle Musigny

Good medium red. Very ripe, slightly liqueur-like red fruits dominate the nose; the only one of these 2016s that struck me as a bit flat in November. Then slightly disjointed on the palate, with its raspberry, black cherry and licorice flavors showing a slightly tart quality. With moderate mid-palate sweetness, the tannins come off as slightly dry today. The crop level was tiny due to frost and Millet chose not to use any new barrels.

The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny Village offers fragrant blackberry and raspberry scents, a touch of cranberry leaf and wilted rose petal. I appreciate the delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, not the most complex village cru from the domaine that I have tasted, just missing a little dimension toward the finish, but at least crisp with moderate length.

Three casks made from 2 ha, including >1 ha of upslope village vineyard and 0.1 ha each of premier cru blocks Les Fuées and Les Baudes. No new oak as it would have overwhelmed such a small crop. Deep crimson, very clean and fresh – comes soaring out of the glass. Intense blackcurrant fruit (most unusual for burgundy). Pretty firm tannins – this will need time! But great balance and power. (JR)