2021 Domaine Anne-Francoise Gros, Richebourg Grand Cru

The 2021 Richebourg Grand Cru has a lot of reduction on the nose, and at the moment this subdues the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with finely tuned tannins, a keen line of acidity and admirable tension. Lightly spiced and slightly chalky, there is a touch of wood to be fully assimilated on the finish. However, there is a pleasing flow to this wine, and it seems to gain precision after returning to it after 30 minutes. Long-term. Its ultimate quality will be based on how that reduction plays out, but it gets better and better in the glass until I end up reaching the score shown. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Cask sample. Pale garnet. Lots of sweetness but I'm not sure it's a great buy. There is some energy here but a heck of a lot of sweetness rather than pure complexity. (JR)