2014 Corton Le Clos du Roi Grand Cru Magnum La Vougeraie

The Vougeraie parcel of Clos du Roi runs to 0.5 hectares of 60-year-old vines and sees 50% whole bunches. Chalky and even a little austere, it's focused and taut with grainy tannins, subtle oak and good underlying texture. A textbook Corton. 2019-28

A discreet application of wood easily allows the fresh, earthy, herbal tea and sauvage-scented nose of red and dark pinot fruit to shine. As one would expect the big-bodied flavors possess plenty of size, weight and punch along with solid power and mid- palate concentration that adds to the appeal of the beautifully long and mouth coating finish. This is not particularly complex at present but there is so much development potential in evidence that much more should appear with time in bottle and my rating assumes that it will.

The 2014 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru has a rather conservative, straightlaced bouquet, subtle tertiary notes keeping a tab on the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasant juiciness on the entry. There is still a bit of oak to be absorbed but there is fine matière on the finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. It is a wine that needs to shake of its infant shackles, spread its wings a bit.

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, the 2014 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru from Vougeraie clearly has some stem addition on the nose but it works well: the fruit seems ripe and it does not obscure the terroir. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, sour cherry and strawberry with a fine line of acidity threaded through from start to finish, lending focus and harmony. Still a baby, give this 2-3 more years before broaching. Tasted September 2017. 2020 - 2032

"Medium red. Musky but shy aromas of redcurrant, underbrush and earth. Supple, sweet and pliant, offering good body and soil character energized by salty minerality. The rising finish features firm, ripe tannins, noteworthy mineral energy and excellent silky persistence.