CORTON BRESSANDES

The nose has all the floral fragrances of red fruits backed by some richer red and black cherry. The palate starts quite firm sweeter in the middle with enough freshness at the back to give the long finish an appealing elegance. 2014-22 Rating: 93 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (Dec 2013)

Moderately saturated medium red. Initially smelled like a white wine, with its wild mint and citrus peel scents, then opened to reveal cherry, raspberry and red licorice. Densely packed and utterly seamless, with a restrained sweetness and excellent energy to the tactile, lightly saline middle palate. Conveys a strong impression of solidity without any excess weight. With its perfectly integrated acidity, this grand cru really stimulates the taste buds on the superb, rising finish. Should age a long time. Rating: 94 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Mar 2013)

(three separate plantings with an average vine age of about 35 years). Reduction impairs an evaluation of the nose but there is good verve to the relatively finely detailed but broad-shouldered flavors that ooze a noticeable minerality on the tension-filled finish that is not particularly long due, most probably, to the presence of a highly level of gas. There appears to be excellent underlying material along with solid phenolic maturity of the structural components but this is very awkward today. Given the quality of the basic raw material here, as well as the outstanding track record of this wine, my range offers the benefit of the doubt. 2025+ Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Apr 2012)