2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Henri Boillot

Rich deep colour here with lighter purple rim. This has a glorious plump fruit to it, myrtilles, but despite the richness of the fruit it dances very lightly, perhaps because the grapes comes from the terres blanches sector of Bonnes Mares. Beautiful stylish aftertaste with just the right acidity. Bravo. Tasted: November 2018.

(from Chambolle fruit). Here too the nose is quite restrained with its admirably pure aromas of red cherry, dark currant, spice and earth along with notes of violet and lavender. I very much like the sense of underlying tension to the succulent, indeed even juicy, medium weight plus flavors that exude a subtle salinity on the tautly muscular and firm finish that flashes just a hint of youthful austerity. This isn't quite as complex as the Chambertin but it's close and it may well close the gap over time as this is also very clearly structured for mid to even longer-term keeping. 95/2035+

One of the finest reds in the Boillot cellar, the 2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru offers up lovely aromas of peonies, wild berries, spicy potpourri and espresso roast. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and mineral, with a deep core of concentrated fruit, chalky structuring tannins and a long, sapid finish.

The 2017 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru offers dark cherries, blackberry and light touches of blue fruit in what is a very similar bouquet to the domaine's other Grand Crus. The palate is full- bodied with ripe tannins, perhaps showing a little more terroir expression than the other Grand Crus, with touches of white pepper and sage towards the structured finish. This is probably the best of Boillot's Grand Crus.