2017 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru

The 2017 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru is quite high-toned and slightly lactic on the nose, featuring strawberry cheesecake and vanilla; the oak is a little strong here. The palate is medium-bodied and quite structured, with firm, grippy tannins and a granular texture. It builds nicely toward the solid, somewhat brawny finish, so afford it two to three years in bottle. Very promising. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Clear bright purple. The nose will take some teasing. This is pure fresh and stylish albeit with quite a significant veneer of oak which impacts the finish. Medium depth and length at first but the concentration really builds thereafter.

The 2017 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras unfurls in the glass with a youthfully reticent bouquet of raspberries, cherries, rose petal and orange rind. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny-textured and multidimensional, with stunning depth and concentration at the core, mouthwatering acids and a searingly intense, mineral finish. This is a stunning Cras from a masterful winemaker at the peak of her powers.