Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques, Domaine Fourrier 2009

This storied terroir often produces one of the most elegant and sophisticated of all the 26 Gevrey 1ers with the gorgeously refined red berry fruit and floral nose suffused by an almost pungent minerality that continues onto the supple, fresh and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent concentration and a stunning, even explosive if firmly structured finish. This is an intense wine of harmony and drive with everything it needs for a long life. Drink: 2019+

Good bright medium red. Wild, musky aromas of strawberry, raspberry, minerals and game; quite explosive on the nose. Sweet, fat and savory, with the musky quality carrying through on the palate. Not particularly high-pitched or floral but offers terrific intensity of red berry and soil flavors. Fourrier believes that following three vintages with lower levels of phenolic maturity, many growers overextracted in 2009. Incidentally, he's now confident about his labor-intensive system for sealing his bottles with wax and believes that a wine like this Clos Saint-Jacques should have no trouble aging for 20 years.

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques is a seamless beauty laced with hard candy, perfumed cherries, kirsch and spices. The sweetest and silkiest of tannins caress the palate from start to finish as this sublime Burgundy conquers all of the senses. The laser-like, pure finish is breathtaking. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.

This storied terroir often produces one of the most elegant and sophisticated of all the 26 Gevrey 1ers with the gorgeously refined red berry fruit nose suffused by an almost pungent minerality that continues onto the supple, fresh and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent concentration and a stunning, even explosive if firmly structured finish. This is an intense wine of harmony and drive with everything it needs for a long life.