Dark colour and quite a Gevrey sort of nose, good volume and a lively precision on the palate. Juicy firm finish with good acidity.

At the bottom of a combe, but just round the corner and out of the wind, facing due south. It is on a soft, friable, 'tuffeau'-like limestone which is almost chalk. Nicely ripe and opulent. Sunny...(read more)

A south-facing plot which is sunnier and ripens earlier and easily, and always seems to be a distinctive black fruit character. Silkier and finer than the Échezots for now, attractive with its da...(read more)

Only just finished malo, and the fruit is ever so slightly on the back foot. Chunkier, more structured blacker style than the Marsannays.

This is on the hard limestone named 'Comblanchien' after the village next to Nuits where it is quarried for marble. Named the 'partridge field', and there is a hint of subtle gaminess. Delicate f...(read more)

On comblanchien, a hard limestone which is almost marble (and which is quarried as such, at Comblanchien, just south of Nuits). It is actually the 'youngest' stone of the region. There is a class...(read more)

As so often a paler colour here. Possibly rather on the back foot - nose is discreet, but although there is a lovely harmony in the mouth this is not fully expressive yet.

This is at the bottom of the Combe de Lavaux, and the soil is a stony mix of clay and rock, all good stuff washed down from higher up. Lots of finesse. Supple yet quite firm under the initial coa...(read more)

On the alluvial fan at the base of a combe, there is limestone underneath but this is mostly clay and little stones and alluvium. It ripens well and is harvested before the premiers crus. The poo...(read more)

Round and ripe and rich, with an interesting salinity too. Lifted fruit, really quite mineral, Pure and very dry and long. A very clayey soil above Corbeau - next to Mazis and Ruchottes going sou...(read more)

As so often this year the step up the Premier Cru sis marked. A deep richness. Dark fruit, sweetness and mass, a really pretty excitying premier Cru. Big with black fruit but good tension too.

Powerful and massive wine from clayey soil next to grand cru Ruchottes. There is dark colour, and rich tannin as well as fruit - a bit of a brute but no shortage of character, and the fruit is ve...(read more)

Clay soils, so a style a bit like the Fixin, square and powerful, very rich with a fine weave, gives a sense of opulence and a chocolatey richness.

Philippe's vines in Charmes are right up under Griotte Chambertin, where there is more stone ('calcaire d'entroques' or crinoidal limestone) and this gives wines with more elegance - the topsoil...(read more)

Really quite nervy again, still open but quite clenched and serious for a Charmes. Positive and forceful rather than sunny and relaxed.

This on crinoidal limestone like the Marsannay. All in finesse with elegant tannins. 2/3 new wood, which it absorbs without a problem. Rich and full, silky feel, but still with a tension and driv...(read more)