2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru La Vougeraie Magnum

The 2017 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a generous bouquet, the discreet stem addition lending an attractive leafiness that complements the brambly red fruit. More undergrowth scents emerge with time. The palate is silky-smooth on the entry, very plush but controlled, and despite the opulence, terroir floods through this Bonnes-Mares, which fans out wonderfully on the finish. This is an impressive showing and one of the best from the domaine this vintage. A long-term prospect. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

Medium crimson colour, a little bit of reduction, slightly evolved in the way that whole bunches can introduce, cleans up on the palate and becomes more interesting. This wine shows the darker fruit and slight chocolate note that has been evident throughout the flight, but becomes steadily livelier in the glass.

The 2017 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru contains 100% whole bunches this year, matured in around 25% new oak. It has an attractive, tightly knit bouquet of blackberry, bilberry and light briny scents, quite Morey-Saint-Denis-like in style. The palate is structured and (for a Bonnes-Mares) quite strict and grippy. Firm and stoic toward the finish, this is a Bonnes-Mares that will certainly require five or six years in bottle. 2024 - 2040 .

A thrilling combination of succulent red fruit, elegant sweet spice and delicate mineral chalkiness. Complex and textured with sleek, silky tannins and a mouthwatering purity of fruit which will improve with further ageing. Charming, enticing and long.