Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques, Louis Jadot 2016

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a very seductive, candied bouquet with pure blueberries and red cherry fruit under a veneer of vanillary new oak that seems in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy ripe tannins, well-judged acidity, smooth in texture, but you might argue, missing the mineral tension on the finish compared to others. It is a very competent Clos Saint-Jacques albeit not the most memorable. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. Drink 2024-2046.

Here too there is a distinct coolness to the wonderfully pure aromas of earth, rose petal, red currant and the sauvage that are set off by noticeable wood and menthol nuances. The rich, dense and sappy broad-shouldered yet refined flavors possess a suave and polished mouth feel, all wrapped in a stony and hugely long finish. This excellent effort is markedly firm but very well-balanced and should age effortlessly for years to come.

The Clos Saint-Jacques is also excellent, offering up am incipiently complex bouquet of red-black fruit, bonfire, rich soil, subtle grilled meat and a framing of new oak. On the palate, the wine if full-bodied and deep at the core, its fine-grained chassis of rich tannins nicely cloaked in cool fruit. Serious and complete, this should develop very well in the cellar.

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques has a satisfying bouquet with quite luxuriant kirsch and cranberry scents, vanilla and wilted rose petals. It wants to show the other premier crus who is boss. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite lush in the mouth, plenty of roundeur here with a sleek red cherry and wild strawberry finish, almost confit-like in style. Great length even if maybe it does not quite deliver the panache of last year's Clos Saint-Jacques. Drink 2021 - 2045.