2022, Domaine A. -F. Gros, SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNE, 1er cru, 'Clos des Guettes'This is a lovely wine that can have a touch of earthiness when young plus it ages really, really well. Put a case aside in the cellar and you will be pleasantly surprised. A cooler and distinctly earthy nose reticently offers up its aromas of red and dark currant along with a hint of the sauvage. There is once again excellent volume and punch to the solidly concentrated medium weight flavours that seem to be built on a base of minerality, all wrapped

the precocity of this parcel seeping through as it opens up

Here the somewhat grumpy nose requires aggressive swirling to coax the earth and sauvage-inflected dark berry fruit aromas to reveal themselves

After the first selection in the vineyards

The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black and blue fruit preserves

and even a touch of gaminess turns into more pressed rose scents

This intensely mineral-driven effort is excellent though like all competent examples of Rugiens

Bruno's policy is now to only select fruit from the heart of the Ducru vineyard

it is still "cool

the wine is medium to full-bodied

One to watch for sure

Honeysuckle

mint and hints of white pepper over a bed of bay leaf and cedar