2011 Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur Richebourg Grand Cru

Iron, smoke, black cherries and crushed rocks are some of the notes that blossom as the 2011 Richebourg fills out its imposing, full-bodied frame. Intensely structured on the palate, but beautifully perfumed at the same time, the 2011 impresses for its balance and sense of harmony. This is a fabulous showing from Bernard Gros.

An overtly spicy nose trimmed in moderate wood toast is still relatively restrained as the essence of red and dark berry fruit is quite cool. There is excellent volume and punch on the generously wooded flavors that coat the mouth with dry extract on the impressively persistent finish that displays ample minerality. This is quite seductive though the wood is presently more prominent than I personally prefer. Tasted: Jan 15, 2014. Drink: 2023+

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Richebourg 2011 has a rather strange, rather lean nose considering that this is a grand cru, with slightly green fruit – perhaps some oxidation here? Returning later, the nose has tucked its shirt in and straightened its tie, developing more focus and harmony, the spectrum of red fruit brighter, more luminescent. The palate is medium-bodied and shows more cohesion. There is nicely judged acidity with appealing soft, tertiary tannins, however it just seems to be missing substance on the linear finish. Nov 2014, www.robertparker.com