Floral, spice and cinnamon notes are evident up front. Smooth, silky tannins frame an elegant array of tangy cherry, strawberry, pepper, sage and earth notes. At its core, there is an herbal note suggestive of cluster stems, adding depth and interest. A big step up from the Echézeaux.

The Grands Echézeaux 2000 is a cerebral Burgundy, not quite as convincing as it was three years ago, but still a great wine. Here it has a vibrant red berry, stony bouquet that is reserved at first, but opens nicely with limestone and sea-spray scents emerging with time. It has a quite brilliant balance on the palate–not a powerful Grands Echézeaux but complex, with hints of black olive and chlorophyll emerging toward the finish that gently fans out and becomes a little spicier as it aerates. Superb. (NM)

Bright cherry red with a hint of brick at the wide, pale rim. Relatively simple fruit flavours after the 2001. Hint of cherry with some sweet candied violets. Sweet and light and flirtatious with a kick of acidity. Sprightly and zesty. Again, that fan of flavours on the finish -- cherries and mulberries. Very very long. Bright fruit -- much more forthcoming than the 2001. Seems at first a little simple but opens up in the glass to be thoroughly convincing. (JR) 17/20