BONNES MARES

2017 Grand Cru Domaine Joseph Drouhin

EN PRIMEUR

(35% whole clusters). A ripe but still agreeably fresh and densely fruit nose is a pretty mixture of spiced poached plum, red currant, earth and lovely floral nuances. There is fine density to the highly energetic and refreshing big-bodied flavors that deliver outstanding length on the very firmly structured and tightly wound yet impeccably well-balanced finish. Once again, patience strongly advised as this is very much built-to-age. 94/2032+ Drinking range: 2032 - Rating: 94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Apr 2019)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

Loads of blue-earth and gunmetal aromas with raspberries, blueberries and lemon zest. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and crunchiness and richness at the end. Linear, very tight and persistent on the finish. Bang! Give this a number of years to come around. Drink after 2022. Drinking range: 2022 - Rating: 97 Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com (Feb 2019)

There are two barrels of the 2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, a decidedly promising wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, dried peony, licorice and sweet soil tones. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and layered, with superb concentration and depth for the vintage, framed by a broad-shouldered chassis of fine-grained but chalky tannin and underpinned by a lovely line of acidity. Rating: 92-94+ William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Jan 2019)

The 2017 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru was picked on September 13 with around 35% whole cluster fruit. This has a generous, pure bouquet of black and blue fruit, delineated and focused if not quite as complex as the best Bonnes-Mares. The palate is sappy on the entry with grippy dark berry fruit, lightly spiced and quite sinewy. This year I prefer the femininity and terroir expression displayed by the Les Amoureuses. Not bad, but not my favorite among Drouhin’s Grand Crus. Two barrels produced. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

Mid crimson. Riper-smelling and a little darker-fruited than the Amoureuses and some more obvious oak sweetness. Then unexpectedly more severe on the palate. Very dry, firmly tannic. Chewy, not very giving. All to play for. Drinking range: 2027 - 2047 Rating: 18.5+ Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Dec 2018)

Joseph Drouhin, founded in 1880 and still family owned, are one of the most well-respected names in Burgundy, especially through their flagship wine, the iconic Clos des Mouches.

A huge part of the Drouhin production comes from their own domaine fruit (78 hectares), and much of the rest comes from contracts such as that with the Marquis de Laguiche, who shook hands with the grandfather of the current generation, agreeing to let him manage his vineyards which included an important part of Le Montrachet; this collaboration endures. Today, the fourth generation is at the helm

Small refinements continue to be made here. The presses have been changed - a reversion to basket pressing for the reds, and for whites the presses are open - along with a number of other growers they are following the trend to think that slight oxidation of the juice before fermentation is not a problem and may add complexity as well as avoiding later problems of premature oxidation in bottle.

For the reds there has been the introduction of selective whole-bunch fermentation in the Côte de Nuits wines. The house style remains one that 'emphasises the natural elegance of great Burgundies' as they describe it. The domaine is all cultivated with an organic and biodynamic approach.

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Wines bought en primeur are scheduled to arrive in the UK over the course of the next eighteen months. If you do not wish to take home delivery, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our primeurs team for more information.

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BURGUNDY EN PRIMEUR FAQ

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