The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes has an attractive bouquet with vivacious black cherry, bilberry and violet aromas that seems to cope well with the 100% new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, well structured for a Village Cru with fine delineation towards the finish. It feels tannic and a little hard at the moment so afford this six or seven years to soften. Tasted at the Domaine.

(this wine and the estate's crus were still in barrel in mid-January): Saturated red-ruby. Distinctly dark, oak-influenced aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Denser, darker and deeper than the basic village Gevrey, with fully ripe dark berry and spice flavors lifted by a mineral component. Today the unabsorbed gas accentuates the wine's serious tannins, but this very concentrated wine (some of these vines are nearly 100 years old) has the density to ensure a graceful evolution in bottle. Leaves behind a high note of violet.

For reports and full tasting notes, go toTim Atkin MW's website.

Much more intense and vibrant than the regular bottling. Definitely worth a premium though it seems awfully expensive for a village wine! (JR)