Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Bouchard Père et Fils 2014

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, the 2014 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru showed a little more ripeness on the nose compared to its peers, suggesting a slightly later picking than other growers. With aeration it gains more and more clarity, offering scents of potpourri, chalk and orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, the acidity well judged but very backward and clearly requiring several years to open up. Serious Clos de Bèze for those with patience, this Bouchard ranks alongside more prestigious names and I bet is not as expensive. Chapeau. Drink 2020-2050.

**Note: from purchased grapes; 50% whole clusters**Once again very generous but not completely dominant wood serves as a borderline intrusive backdrop to the more elegant and spicier nose of various wild red berries that display added breadth in the form of earth, stone and floral nuances. There is excellent verve to the intensely mineral-driven and overtly powerful big-bodied flavors that deliver strikingly good persistence on the impeccably well-balanced finish. While this will improve over the next 15 to perhaps even 20 years it should be reasonably civilized after "only" 8 to 10 years of cellar time.