Allen Meadows - Score: 92-95 (2017 Apr.)

Here the generous wood treatment is borderline intrusive as the menthol element all but dominates the markedly spicy and ripe dark berry fruit aromas. The medium-bodied flavors are even richer than those of the Clos de la Roche and more refined as well though, as one might reasonably expect, less powerful before culminating in a highly seductive and strikingly complex finale. This beauty isn't quite as structured but it should have no difficulty rewarding from 15 to 20 years of bottle age.

Vinous - Score: 92-95 (2017 Jan.)

Bright medium red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, red licorice and pungent pepper are lifted by an exhilarating topnote. A very tightly wound, classic young Clos Saint-Denis that's slow to revealits weight and texture. But the very intense, penetrating flavors of raspberry, dried rose, spices and herbs convey a strong impression of class even if there's nothing easy about this reserved wine in the early going. Firmly tannic, savory and built for a graceful evolution in bottle, this seriously structured wine should gain in dimension and pliancy over the next 15 to 20 years.