2015 Maison Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny

Healthy bright red. Reticent scents of pomegranate, cranberry, minerals and spices display lovely subtle floral lift. Supple, broad and fresh but perhaps a bit youthfully sullen today, not currently showing the energy or cut of the Vosne-Romanée. But this wine boasts solid concentration and length, finishing with chewy tannins. The Drouhins blended a bit of their Chambolle-Musigny Les Haut-Doix into this village wine but no Les Baudes, as that premier cru was made on its own in 2015.

The 2015 Chambolle-Musigny Village actually includes 70% premier cru fruit courtesy of Les Baudes, the rest is village cru (personally, I would bottle it separately, although they assured me that they sell it for the price of a premier cru so they are not losing out). It has a gorgeous bouquet with blueberry and creme de cassis, floral scents emerging with time. I adore the precocity here whilst maintaining the precision of a premier cru. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is an abundance of lively black cherry and blueberry fruit; it comes across detailed and energetic towards the focused finish. This has great potential, though it needs 3-4 years to absorb the new oak.

Sample. Very pure nose and finely etched fruit. Really rather seductive. Nicely balanced ripe fruit but with purity and freshness. (JR)