This is also surprisingly expressive at this early stage with a broad-ranging nose that features notes of apple, pear, white flowers, wood spice and a hint of something mildly exotic. The big-bodied yet refined flavors possess a wonderfully textured mouth feel thanks primarily to the abundance of palate coating dry extract that does a beautiful job of buffering the notably firm but not aggressive acid backbone on the hugely long finish where a hint of wood appears. This is slightly finer than usual with a really lovely sense of overall balance and harmony.
Vinous - Score: 93-95(42248)
Bright, pale yellow. Deeply pitched, slightly reduced aromas of stone fruits, pineapple and honey. Fatter and sweeter than the Bienvenue, then broader and more powerful on the back half, showing a ripe pineapple character but coming across as bone-dry. Less harmonious than the Bienvenue and a bit more phenolic on the back end. This wine will need a good seven or eight years of cellaring.
Allen Meadows - Score: 93-95 (42522)
This is also surprisingly expressive at this early stage with a broad-ranging nose that features notes of apple, pear, white flowers, wood spice and a hint of something mildly exotic. The big-bodied yet refined flavors possess a wonderfully textured mouth feel thanks primarily to the abundance of palate coating dry extract that does a beautiful job of buffering the notably firm but not aggressive acid backbone on the hugely long finish where a hint of wood appears. This is slightly finer than usual with a really lovely sense of overall balance and harmony.Vinous - Score: 93-95 (42248)
Bright, pale yellow. Deeply pitched, slightly reduced aromas of stone fruits, pineapple and honey. Fatter and sweeter than the Bienvenue, then broader and more powerful on the back half, showing a ripe pineapple character but coming across as bone-dry. Less harmonious than the Bienvenue and a bit more phenolic on the back end. This wine will need a good seven or eight years of cellaring.