Bright, dark red, the darkest of a flight of Corton grand crus. Brooding aromas of black cherry, licorice, black pepper and minerals. Suave and fine-grained but very backward; blacker in its fruit character than most Cortons in 2014, with an impression of peppery acidity energizing the middle palate. Finishes very savory, dry, firm and long, with a repeating licorice note and a strong sense of bound-up energy. This dense, youthfully taut, powerfully structured wine is going to require a lot of patience and may ultimately merit an even higher score.

The product of a dry spring and a rainy summer, the 2014 Corton Grand Cru Clos des Cortons Faiveley offers up an appealing bouquet of wild berries, dark chocolate, cedar, espresso roast and candied peel that's framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with an ample, textural attack but a tight-knit, somewhat closed mid-palate that's structured around fine-grained but firm tannins. While the 2014 isn't as as broad-shouldered as the 2015, it's a powerful, structured wine that will demand some patience.

Mid crimson. Elegantly perfumed with dark fruit and a fine depth of fruit framed by supple, compact tannins. Extremely moreish and finishes long and fresh. Very long. (JH)