Tasted from bottle, Méo's 2017 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées lives up to its fine performance from barrel last year, bursting with expressive aromas of sweet red berries and plums that mingle with nuances of orange rind, exotic spices, raw cocoa and rose hip. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a deep core, powdery tannins and lively animating acidity, concluding with a long and perfumed finish.

The 2017 Vosne-Romanée Aux Brûlées 1er Cru has quite a complex, cerebral bouquet of mineral-laden dark berry fruit, hints of undergrowth and a subtle wet limestone aroma. The medium-bodied palate offers crisp, slightly chalky tannin, well-judged acidity, moderate depth and a tensile, very focused finish. There is a little strictness at the moment, but I feel it will gain more flesh by the time of bottling. This is extremely promising.

Moderate wood influence sets off the beautifully spicy aromas that consist primarily of plum, black cherry and exotic Asian-style tea. The rich, full-bodied and solidly dense flavors also brim with sappy dry extract that buffers the less firm but still prominent tannins on the lingering finish where a hint of bitter cherry pit emerges. This isn't quite as complex as the best in the range at present but I have found over the years that this wine tends to develop excellent depth as it ages.