2020 Musigny Grand Cru La Vougeraie

Two and a half barrels, one new, with 100% whole bunches. Both these elements show a little in the very youthful wine. Otherwise the nose is discretion itself, before the fruit explodes in magical fashion at the start of the palate. Yet is there quite the weight and persistence of a truly great wine? There is the right acidity and a fine sense of balance, but the wine stops short of the full majesty of a truly great Musigny this year.

Coming from two parcels totaling only 0.2 hectares, this was whole cluster-fermented then aged in 40% new oak. It is seamless. Scents of mulberries and blueberries deliver impressive fruit purity. The spice-laden palate has a luxurious, taffeta-like texture with svelte tannins and elegant acidity. It is so well-knit that it is almost ready to drink now, but it will deliver pleasure for decades to come.

The 2020 Musigny Grand Cru is 100% whole bunch as usual. This has a very complete and delineated bouquet with mineral-rich red berry fruit, touches of pressed rose petal emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, moderate depth, quite "linear’ for a Musigny with a very sapid finish. Not bad, although I feel this is slightly dictated by the stem addition at the moment. I would be intrigued to revisit this after bottling because it is difficult seeing which way this is going to head.

(from a tiny parcel of .17 ha; 100% whole clusters). This is actually surprisingly similar to the Bonnes Mares if perhaps a bit more elegant. The ultra-refined and gorgeously textured equally sized flavors flash a plenitude of minerality and focused power on the strikingly long and impeccably well-balanced finale. This is also outstanding with equally good development potential. Wonderful.