Allen Meadows

Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg 2021 /This possesses the spiciest nose among the 3 grand crus in 2021 with its array of sandalwood, anise, clove, jasmine tea and cool black cherry and hoisin scents. The succulent, round and very generously proportioned big-bodied flavors display focused power and muscle on the mineral-driven, palate soaking and superbly long finish. This youthfully austere effort is markedly compact, and I would strongly suggest not even thinking of opening a bottle before its 10th anniversary. Terrific and especially so for the vintage.

Louis Latour Montrachet 2020 / Moderate reduction and wood render the nose. More intriguing are the dense, serious and palate staining larger-bodied flavors that deliver excellent length on the powerful and muscular if noticeably warm finish where the wood treatment resurfaces. This is quite backward and tightly wound and a wine that will like need all of 10 to 12 years to reveal its full potential. 2030+ 92-94

Albert Bichot Domaine du Pavillon Volnay Les Santenots 1er Cru 2019 – Discreet but perceptible wood sets off the overtly spicy aromas of dark cherry and raspberry that are trimmed in equally discreet nuances of violet and lavender. There is fine mid-palate concentration to the medium-bodied flavors that possess solid power and focus on the sneaky long, balanced and firm finish.

Méo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot 2018 / An unusually spicy and appealingly fresh array is comprised by liqueur-like red berry fruit aromas, especially cherry, that are laced with notes earth, lavender and a whisper of exotic spice. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the rich, well-detailed and relatively sleek medium-bodied flavors that display focused power on the sneaky long and markedly firm finale. 
Barrel Sample: 91-94

The estate wines of Rhys Vineyards are made from organic and biodynamically farmed fruit. Owner Kevin Harvey and winemaker Jeff Brinkman continue to fashion truly remarkable wines, indeed they are consistently among the best examples that California has to offer. At each of their vineyards sites, over 75% of the land is left in a completely natural state. In addition to the native wildlife, they plant herbs, flowers, vegetables and grain crops while free ranging chickens and sheep also help naturally fertilize the vineyards. This is all part of their philosophy that creating a living soil creates better wine. Their winemaking process, from harvest to bottling, is based on a gravity system and the wines are never pumped, fined, or filtered. Readers should be aware that the Rhys wines are clearly fashioned in a built-to-age style and thus are most assuredly not intended to show their best young.

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes-Mares 2018 is very deeply colored, in fact so much so that it would make a young port blush! The ripe aromas of red and blue berries, spice and earth display a mentholated top note. The dense, powerful and mouthcoating broad-shouldered flavors possess evident muscularity while delivering excellent length on the youthfully austere finale. This isn't refined, indeed it's borderline rustic, but it's a dramatic and impressive wine that should live for decades.

La Grande Rue Grand Cru 2010 is quite ripe though still fresh and bright with intensely spicy aromas of red berry and cherry liqueur. There is a seductively silky texture to the middle weight and delicious flavors that possess excellent depth as well as seriously impressive persistence. 

Château de Pommard 'Simone' 2012 – There is at once fine richness but also good refinement to the powerful and concentrated middle weight flavors that deliver seriously good length on the very firm finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth.