(35-year-old vines) Good medium red. Slightly reduced aromas of raspberry, iron and minerals. At once silky and more precise, with lovely inner-mouth lift. The limestone soil gives this wine very good energy and vinosity. Smoky red fruit flavors are aromatic and persistent.

Tasted at the Comte Liger-Belair vertical at the Château de Vosne. The 2004 Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château actually has an attractive nose and demonstrated less of the "green meanies" than the La Romanée '04 at least at first...then they start to appear and usurp the rustic red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a raw entry and rather harsh tannin, a bitter edge toward the finish. Frankly, I can take or leave this Clos du Château and might actually prefer the drinkability of the 2003. Tasted June 2015.

Monopole. Looks much more than a year older than the 2005. Very nice evolution. Mushroomy already. Quite light at first, then a hit of bright cherry fruit. There’s a slight hole in the middle. Very pale. (JR)