Opening in the glass with notes of plums, raspberries and blackcurrants mingled with espresso roast, dark chocolate and rich soil tones, the 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes is medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and fine, chalky tannins. This is one of the more reserved of Croix's Beaune 1er Crus, but also the most promising.

The 2018 Beaune Les Bressandes 1er Cru was approached differently this year: four rows trimmed and four rows left with untrimmed canes, the bunches not de-stemmed. The elegant bouquet features precocious morello cherry, crushed strawberry and cranberry aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, built around a fine bead of acidity. Real precision and tension flow through the persistent finish. Superb.