Allen Meadows - Score: 91 (2016 Apr.)

Medium bricking. A cool, pure and really quite pretty nose features aromas of sous-bois and a panoply of spice nuances that add plenty of breadth to the secondary fruit scents. There is both good richness and vibrancy to the mineral-driven, intense and muscular flavors that possess an attractive texture before culminating in an impressively long and complex finish where the still moderately firm tannins exhibit a touch of rusticity. Even so the natural class of a classic Richebourg is in evidence and like the '81 Grands Ech (see herein), well-stored examples should continue to hold well. In sum this is an excellent effort in the context of what is typical for the '81 vintage.