2015 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée Aux Reignots 1er Cru

Bright, dark red. Very ripe aromas of crushed blueberry and boysenberry are complicated by hints of black pepper, violet and spicy oak. A juicy, savory wine with lovely definition and inner-mouth energy; shows the saline minerality of the Aux Murgers as well as a bit more early sweetness. The tannins saturate the mouth but are suaver and less chewy than those of the Murgers. Finishes with terrific fruit-driven persistence. Made from the youngest vines of the estate (19 years old), this wine is more flatteur than the Murgers. Cathiard predicts that as these vines mature, his Reignots will become his second-best Vosne premier cru after Malconsorts.

The 2015 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots has a gorgeous bouquet with mineral-rich red cherry, kirsch and strawberry fruit, quite open and expressive yet still beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, sorbet-fresh with hints of orange rind permeating the vibrant, fresh, tensile, almost tart red fruit, with a crisp and vivacious, animated finish. This barrel sample had so much energy that I almost asked Sebastien Cathiard for a leash. Electric!