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Ten Top Premier Cru Reds from the Glorious 2016 Vintage
The 2016 vintage in Burgundy produced some of the most wonderful wines I have seen. At Premier Cru level there are simply many wonderful wines that display the freshness and vitality of the vintage with depth, complexity and intensity.
Today I have picked ten wines that I feel are very special. They all have that little something extra that makes them stand out from the pack.
Quantities of some wines are very limited and I have listed quantities available.
Domaine Jean Chauvenet Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Les Perrieres 2016
750ml Normally $199.95
Special $169.95
1500ml MAGNUM Normally $399.90
Special $339.90
12 bottles and 2 Magnums available
 Darren Harris: Chauvenet own parcels in seven Nuits Premier Crus including Les Vaucrains, Les Damodes and Les Bousselots but it is their small 0.23 hectare parcel in Les Perrieres that has me gob-smacked in 2016. The wine combines red and black fruits in a lifted, aromatic nose with minerals in spades. It is fresh and vibrant yet deeply flavoured with subtle spices playing in the background. 1/3 new oak contributes to the freshness and ensures the wine remains lifted and aromatic. This is really fine NSG Premier Cru with an elegant character yet never losing its stamp of origin. Only 3 barrels produced in 2016. Very fine quality.
Domaine Coste-Caumartin Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Boucherottes Monopole 2016
Normally $171.50
Pre Arrival Price $128.50
Third shipment coming!
Gilbert & Gaillard: A garnet color with ruby highlights. Racy nose, floral presence with greedy Morello cherry. The palate seduces by its scale, its elegance, its fullness. One praises to the skies for its fruit, its floral dimension, its generous tannic finish. A 2016 with an entire character.
Darren Harris: Deep purple-red. Intense nose of cool black fruits - mostly cherries - and huge minerality. Refined and cool. Tight, very tight. The super low cropping adds layer upon layer on a textured palate culminating in an amazing peacock's tail and a very long stony finish.The silky tannins are extremely fine and coated by the velvety fruit.The domaine sets out to make this wine as a Grand Cru with extremely low cropping and beautiful handling. They succeed admirably. I don't think I have ever tasted a Pommard quite like this. It reminds me of a theoretical blend of Corton Clos du Roi, Clos Vougeot and Clos de la Roche with each coming to the fore as the wine sits in the glass. It is a sensual wine and is very special indeed. Forget your pre-conceived idea of Pommard. This is a super wine of Grand Cru quality.
Domaine Bertagna Vougeot 1er Cru Clos de la Perriere Monopole 2016
Normally $239.95
Special $206.95
16 bottles available
Domaine des Varoilles Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos des Varoilles Vieilles Vignes Monopole 2016
Normally $229.95
Special $172.50
37 bottles available
 Tim Atkin MW: Just down the hill from La Romanée - another monopoly vineyard for this domaine - the Clos is a six-hectare vineyard that has made a delectable wine in 2016. It's deliciously scented and appealing, couched in a lighter style, with poise and finesse, redcurrant and red cherry fruit and filigree tannins. 2022-28. 94 Points
Darren Harris: Immediately south of La Romanee, high in the combe. Clos des Varoilles in a significant monopole of almost 6 hectares that was planted in the second half of the 13th century by the Chapter of Langres before it was dispossessed during the French Revolution.
45-65 year old vines, 40% new oak. Deeper and richer than La Romanee with more breadth and complexity. Darker fruits with some liquorice-scented floral notes and a hint of wildness. There is a fine spine of acidity running through the wine which ensures, despite some weight, it remains balanced and captivating. A Premier Cru to add to your must buy list.
Domaine des Varoilles Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos des Varoilles Monopole Cuvee Prestige 100% Vieilles Vignes 2016
Normally $256.95
Special $192.50
16 bottles available
Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Malconsorts 2016
750ml Normally $375.00
Pre Arrival Price $318.50
Case of 12 Bottles $3599.40
1500ml Magnum Normally $750.00
Pre Arrival Price $637.00
Second shipment coming
James Suckling MW:
Beautiful crushed roses with an array of fresh raspberries and red cherries, as well as light mocha and oak spices in the background. The palate has excellent tannin maturity and depth. A bold, explosive finish. This is exceptional. This elegant vintage has delivered a wine with real clarity and detail. But still needs some time. Try from 2024.
94-95 Points
Tim Atkin MW: The Bichot holdings run to 1.75 hectares and cover both the upper and lower parts of the Premier Cru. This is a sturdy, almost austere expression of the site with serious tannins, dense, chewy black fruits and a touch of mint. Very well made, but needs considerable time in bottle. 2028-38. 94 Points
Domaine Jerome Castagnier Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru Aux Cheseaux 2016
Normally $190.95
Special $162.50
22 bottles available
Jasper Morris MW: Rich dense concentrated purple, plenty of oak but the fruit easily wins, incredible density. Ripe dark cherries, plums, dark raspberries, a nice touch of oak, rich but absolutely beautiful, and the finish is exceptional.
94 Points
Hospices de Beaune Volnay 1er Cru Cuvee Blondeau 2016
Normally $199.95
Special $149.95
27 bottles available
 Darren Harris:
From barrel: Deep, saturated purple. Quite expressive even at this early stage with cool but intense spicy red and black fruits. Nice fruit volume on the palate with underlying acidity providing freshness. Like all top Volnay it has a sense of style; concentration without excess weight. It is early days but this has all the hallmarks of a classic Volnay from great vineyards. It will interesting to follow in barrel over the next year.
From bottle: this has now been bottled for more than 6 months. It still has the same saturated colour with a high level of spice and serious fruit weight. I also see violets, minerals and bitter cherry. No doubt the frosts of 2016 affected the cropping level and have ensured the fruit here is deep, textured and complex. 2016 was an outstanding vintage for Volnay in general and this is certainly one of the most serious cuvees I have tasted. Some patience will be required but this is going to live up to the promise it showed in barrel and become one exceptional Volnay.
From bottle: this has now been bottled for more than 6 months. It still has the same saturated colour with a high level of spice and serious fruit weight. I also see violets, minerals and bitter cherry. No doubt the frosts of 2016 affected the cropping level and have ensured the fruit here is deep, textured and complex. 2016 was an outstanding vintage for Volnay in general and this is certainly one of the most serious cuvees I have tasted. Some patience will be required but this is going to live up to the promise it showed in barrel and become one exceptional Volnay.
Domaine Marchand-Grillot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru La Perriere 2016
Normally $220.95
Special $187.50
20 bottles available
Darren Harris: Located below Mazis-Chambertin Marchand-Grillot's Perrieres always sings of its terroir. We have layered flavours of cherries and plums but most of all cool stonyness on the nose. The palate is zippy, fresh and focused with deep flavours and a sense of relative lightness. The tannins are very fine and coat the fruit. A tremendous wine in 2016.
Domaine Rene Cacheux Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2016
Normally $266.50
Special $226.50
Darren Harris:
Just 4 Barrels from a 0.17 ha holding. Vine age 60-70 years. 100% destemmed. Deep red-garnet. Very pure nose of cherry, rose petal and marzipan. Cool and deep. Sleek, muscled and mineral with spices rising as the wine sits in the glass. A hint of smoke, typical of the vineyard. Refined and harmonious with just the right amount of tannin on the finish. A very stylish Vosne.
To view the wines, read more tasting notes, and to order on our website click here. Orders may also be placed by email to tracey@grandmillesime.com.au.
Cheers,
Darren
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Yarraville
Vic 3013
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