2013 Domaine Jacques Prieur Musigny Grand Cru

(Don't Miss!)<br /> The breezy nose is also overtly spicy with markedly ripe yet fresh aromas of plum liqueur, cassis and Asian-style tea nuances. There is outstanding concentration to the powerful yet polished and sleek broad-shouldered and mineral-inflected flavors that are at once muscular and refined while delivering positively terrific depth and length. I very much like the balance and this stunner of a wine should also reward longer-term cellaring.

(production here was about 28 hectoliters per hectare): Bright, dark red. Small wild red berries, brown spices, underbrush and peppery herbs on the lightly medicinal nose and palate, lifted by a floral topnote; I would have guessed this was vinified with some stems. At once silky-sweet and penetrating, offering lovely vinosity and shape, not to mention depth for the year. Finishes with big, ripe, serious tannins and terrific verve and length. This fruit was picked with 12.25% potential alcohol, according to winemaker Nadine Gublin.

There are eight barrels of Jacques Prieur's 2013 Musigny Grand Cru, of which six barrels are new. Now this fully absorbs the new wood better than the Chambertin, so much so that you barely recognize it. It is well defined with black cherries, boysenberry and wild hedgerow scents - all very natural and refined. The palate is well balanced with succulent ripe tannins, well-judged acidity, the oak a little forward toward the finish, but it is in sync with the fruit and rounds this Musigny out nicely. Predictably, this is the finest red from Jacques Prieur this year.