2018 Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

The 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is performing very well, wafting from the glass with a deep-pitched bouquet of cassis, wild berries, incense, rich soil tones and woodsmoke. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and broad-shouldered, with a deep and layered core, rich structuring tannins and ripe but succulent acids. Long and sapid, this is another excellent Clos Vougeot from Faiveley, and this cuvée seems to go from strength to strength every year.

This was the wine where the ferment slowed down to a standstill at 10 g/l residual sugar thanks to the ripeness of the grapes and they had to restart it. Barrel sample. Mid cherry red. Strong vanilla note on the nose, and very sweet red fruits. Firm, chewy, full of fruit but more rustic than the Échezeaux and Grands Échezeaux just tasted. Then a bit abrupt and dry on the finish. Not yet meshed. (JH)