The 2018 Fixin Les Arvelets 1er Cru is matured in 35% new oak. It has a tight but focused bouquet that takes time to unfurl, eventually offering a mixture of red and blue fruit plus just a touch of potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, grainy tannins, good density on the midpalate and an engaging, fleshy but delineated, peppery finish. Very fine.

There are only two premiers crus in Fixin that are not monopoles, according to winemaker Amélie Berthaut. You can call Les Arvelets 'Les Hervelets' but not vice versa. 15% whole bunch. Barrel sample. A return to more subtle red fruit after the Vosne village wine. Fragrant. Although there’s not much whole bunch here, I detect a hint of lavender, plus a nice touch of stone-dust minerality. Juicy and crunchy with a lively fruit core kept in shape by fine dry tannins. Finishes fresh, especially for a warm vintage. Lively and mouth-watering. Chewy though the texture is paper-fine, just lots of it. (JH)

Five-spice, cedar and a hint of flint, with flinty blue fruit on the palate that tries hard to balance the robust, chalky tannins. Just about pulls it off. (TJ)