2014 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru La Vougeraie

A background note of wood easily allows the cool, pure and ripe aromas of essence of apple, white flowers, wet stone and jasmine tea to shine. The almost painfully intense and chiseled broad-shouldered flavors reflect the hallmark minerality of a fine Chevalier before culminating in an explosively long and impeccably well- balanced finale. This classy effort is pretty though it doesn't have the complexity that I'm used to seeing even at this early juncture though in fairness, it may develop it with a few years of bottle age.

The 2014 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, a 0.15-hectare parcel from Girardin, needed some coaxing from the glass, perhaps yet to find its grand cru feet. The palate is well balanced with a pleasing fatness and weight in the mouth, the oak needing some more time to be assimilated with a smooth, harmonious finish.

The Vougeraie stable has benefited greatly from the purchase of white wine vineyards such as this from Vincent Girardin. Stylistically, this is a half-way house between the Bâtard and the Bienvenues, combining elements of both. Toasty, textured and fine with underlying fruit power. 2017-29 .