3 | Wine | Cote de Nuits, 95 or higher

"Complex, soil-driven aromas of dark berries, cherry, licorice, pepper and minerals, lifted by a note of blood orange. Juicy, intensely flavored and imploded; taut and powerful yet at the same time elegant. The crop level here was close to 50 hectoliters per hectare, noted Lardiere, but the grapes were small and no saignee was done. The long finish shows a distinctly creamy aspect." 92-95 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Black cherry, kirsch distillate, cedar, incense, iron filings, wet stone, and roasted meats and coffee represent a few of the immediate aromatic suggestions forced on this taster. In the mouth, it is similarly compelling, with an eruption of clear black cherry, cassis, and meat juices, faintly bitter notes of fruit skin and pungent herbal and mineral notes adding complexity. The texture is incipiently velvety, imposingly glossy, and a perfect cover for fine, abundant tannins. Spectacularly rich and reverberative in its multifaceted finish, this sensational wine deserves at least a decade of rest before re-opening."

"Sexy nose combines dark berries, smoked meat and minerals. Creamy, layered and deep, with terrific energy and penetration and a powerful impression of extract. Finishes broad, sweet and very long. Showing spectacularly today." 92-95 pts. Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Very ripe but vibrant aromas of crushed stone, fresh herbs, white pepper and iodine, with a touch of prune. Then silky and primary in the mouth, with captivating forest floor, mineral and tree bark flavors perked up by white wine notes of hazelnut and peach. Wonderfully vibrant, saline, multidimensional wine that broadens out impressively on the back end and leaves the salivary glands quivering." 93-96 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Pungent, highly perfumed nose offers minerals, dried rose, licorice and pepper; very showy today due to the early malo. Then juicy and pure, with superb energy and precision giving the wine a penetrating quality rare for the year. The tannins are covered by intense fruit on the very long finish, which features strong spicy and floral notes and a medicinal reserve." 94-97 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2003 Clos Vougeot comes forth with unreal aromas of mocha-laced black cherries, chocolate-drenched plums, and candied blackberries. Full-bodied, immensely concentrated, and deep, this broad, bulky, powerful wine is jam-packed with black chocolate, red as well as black cherries, licorice and tar. Loads of solid yet ripe tannin provide this dense blockbuster with ample structure, detectable in its interminable finish."

"Pungent red berry and mocha aromas are lifted by powerful crushed-stone minerality and complicated by an ineffable floral/earthy perfume. A real essence of 2008 on the palate, with outstanding sappy cut and penetration to the flavors of cherry, red berries, minerals and spice oil. The building finish spreads out inexorably to saturate the palate. Rigorous and stimulating: a wine of extraordinary complexity, energy and depth. This was one of my top 2008s from barrel a year ago and it's at least as impressive in bottle."-Stephen Tanzer

"The 2009 Clos de la Roche comes across as big, powerful and a touch heavy-handed. This shows tons of richness and depth but lacks the sheer excitement of the estate’s finest wines. The Clos de la Roche is made from purchased wine." 92-95 pts.

"The 2008 Chambertin-Clos de Beze is an intensely floral, cool wine graced with exquisite finesse in its dark red berries, flowers, minerals and menthol. It is naturally less obvious than the 2009, but just as convincing. A textured, sweet and multi-dimensional finish rounds things out in style. The Beze is quite a bit more open than the Bonnes Mares, but it nevertheless needs time, and probably lots of it."