I asked for the blend rather than tackling the individual components. A fine bright rich purple. An exquisite bouquet, still a baby but you can feel that there is a multitude of detail to follow. The fruit flows exquisitely across the palate. There is some barely ripe redcurrant fruit, a wealth of fresh raspberry and strawberry, then some darker fruit, a perfect poise and balance with tannin and acidity, and exquisite length. This is growing on me in steady stages. Resonance is the word, thinks Jean Lupatelli. Drink from 2033-2048. Tasted Nov 2024.

Cuvée Vieilles VignesDeeply colored, the flavors and structure are just as imposing. The richness of the year is clearly imprinted on the wine, as is the winemaking know-how. Black cherry and blueberry compote, incense, woodsy spice and musk drive this impressive aromatic dimension. The tannins are firm, brooding and somewhat strapping, and they are nicely matched by vivacious, bustling acidity. Crafted with the utmost precision, Jean always separates out seven parcels and usually has one or two of mixed vines. This simply needs time, as the wines of this cellar typically do.

Note: from an incredible 6.46 ha parcel, which doesn't include the .67 ha section planted to chardonnay. A more restrained if just as pretty and equally perfumed nose displays a similar array of red and dark cherry, exotic jasmine tea and dried orange peel along with a hint of sandalwood. On the palate the broad-shouldered and even more concentrated flavors manage the trick of being more powerful but also more refined with an almost aggressive minerality that seems to build in intensity on the compact, youthfully austere and massively long finale. This is however exceptionally firm and is very much a 'buy and forget you own it' wine. In a word, superb.*Burghound Don't Miss!*