(made from a normal crop of ripe grapes from a windy spot that's normally harvested late; vinified with 35% whole clusters): Bright light-medium red. Lovely aromatic verve to the aromas of raspberry, rose petal, minerals and white pepper. Juicy and firmly built, conveying excellent sneaky intensity to its flavors of red berries, minerals and flowers. Finishes a bit clenched in a positive way but juicy and high-pitched, with a vivacious note of orange zest. This very refined, sharply delineated wine finishes with firm building tannins and lingering salty minerality. I suspect that seven or eight years of aging will bring a more supple texture and an even higher score.

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Petits Monts has a delightful bouquet with well-defined black cherry and raspberry scents laced with bergamot and crushed violet aromas. It is just very…Petits Monts. The palate is rounded and sensual on the entry, very pure with well-judged acidity, a little plushness toward the finish that gently glides across the mouth. Maybe it does not have the backbone for long-term consideration, but it sure will give a lot of pleasure over the next 12 to 15 years.

Cask sample. 16 months in oak. Just above Richebourg. Vines are 20+ years old or almost 50 years. No frost problems in Vosne-Romanée. Mid purplish crimson. Sweeter and riper fruited than the Clos des Mouches. Lovely balance of sweet red fruit and fresh acidity. Delicately structured thanks to 30% stems, which give freshness as well as tannins. Dry finesse on the long, deep finish. (JH)