(tiny yield here due to an outbreak of caterpillars in the spring): Deep red-ruby. Reticent, cool aromas of blackberry and curry powder. Dense and brooding on the palate, showing a rather clenched, medicinal aspect today. Comes across as chunkier than the Clos-Saint-Denis, with its fruit currently hidden by strong tannins. Finishes saline and long, with little in the way of easy sweetness. All in reserve today and a bit inscrutable.

From 0.4-hectares of vine split over 3 parcels, the 2013 Clos de la Roche has a fragrant nose very similar to the nascent Clos Saint Denis 2013, but with a little more delineation and minerality. The palate is elegant and refined, very smooth in the mouth with layers of blackcurrant, raspberry preserve, black pepper and a touch of mint, although I feel that the Clos Saint Denis, at least at this stage, is showing just a little more verve and persistence. Still, this should be very interesting to revisit after bottling.