2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Henri Boillot

(only one barrel produced in 2016). Slightly more evident wood influence frames the overtly spicy and quite floral aromas of both red and dark currant, humus and earth. The seductively textured, concentrated, focused and relatively powerful broad-shouldered flavors that also brim with dry extract, all wrapped in a highly energetic, even refreshing finish that is very, very firmly structured while maintaining first-rate balance. This too is excellent but given that the tannins are so firm, this is a 'buy and forget you own it' wine. 2036+

(13.4% natural alcohol; this vineyard saw less frost than the Boillots' Clos Vougeot parcels but the crop is small here even in the good years, according to Guillaume Boillot, who is aging the wine in a new barrel but vinified it in a traditional cuve for 25 days): Bright dark, red. Medicinal dark fruit and licorice aromas are a bit muted today by a strong oak element. Densely packed and wonderfully tactile but also juicy and energetic, conveying a strong impression of thrust to its very intense black cherry and saline soil flavors. Very concentrated, voluminous wine with a powerful impression of terroir; altogether fatter than the Boillot's '16 from the Côte de Beaune. Really spreads out to saturate the palate and linger on the dense, spicy aftertaste. One feels the thick skins in the wine's very natural tannins.