2013 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France 3.0L

This is also heavily reduced though not lactic. This combines excellent richness with very fine detail that adds to the appeal of the medium weight plus flavors that deliver outstanding length on the moderately austere and beautifully well-balanced finish. While not imposingly structured this will still need all of 12 to 15 years of bottle age to realize its full potential.

Tasted blind at Fine & Rare Wines' Clos Vougeot tasting, the 2013 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru from Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat has a more intense bouquet, although not quite the same degree of precision. The fruit feels a little darker with touches of Earl Grey suffusing the red plum and strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin that seem to soften in the glass. There is certainly good volume and weight in the mouth here, gently building to quite a structured, relatively masculine finish with a dash of black pepper lingering on the aftertaste. This is very fine, but it will repay time in the cellar.