The 2012 Ruchottes-Chambertin remains an absolutely stunning wine although it might have closed up a little in recent months. It retains that breath-taking clarity on the nose: crystalline wild strawberry and red cherry notes, fresh and so mineral that you can just feel that limestone bedrock permeating every pore of this startling, beguiling wine. It is a masterpiece – one of the wines of the vintage without doubt. Served blind at Maison de Colombier in Beaune.

The most lifted of the domaine's Grand Crus, the 2012 Ruchottes-Chambertin is floral and ethereal throughout with deceptively mid-weight structure and gorgeous overall balance. Flowers, mint and sweet spices are woven into the perfumed finish. This is the first year in which both of the domaine's parcels in Ruchottes were vinified together, which means that the young vines Ruchottes, previously bottled as Gevrey 1er Cru has been discontinued. The vines here are 12 years old and 60 years old. This is another striking wine from Mugneret-Gibourg.

(there is no more village Gevrey as of 2012 as the Ruchottes vines replanted in 2000 are now going into the grand cru bottling): Palish bright red. Highly aromatic nose combines raspberry, strawberry, rose petal, white pepper and a minty nuance. Less thick and velvety in the mouth than the Echezeaux but shows an exhilarating light touch to the juicy flavors of red berries, minerals and crushed stone. Finishes spicy and perfumed, with a repeating minty note. Not the deepest vintage for this bottling but has enough middle-palate material to support its dusty tannins. Very Chambolle-like in style. This was 12.5% natural alcohol, chaptalized to 12.8%