2020 Domaine des Croix Beaune 1er Cru "Les Grèves"

“The 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves has fulfilled the promise it showed from barrel, filling the glass with scents of sweet wild berries, blood orange, musk and other spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, with a sumptuous core of fruit that's underpinned by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long, saline finish. (WK)” (01/2023)

“A perfumed, cool and attractively airy nose freely offers up its aromas of spicy and distinctly floral dark berry fruit coulis along with hints of warm earth. The sleeker and highly energetic flavors possess a refined mouthfeel thanks to the abundant dry extract that also serves to buffer the noticeably firmer tannic spine shaping the dusty and bitter pit fruit-suffused finish that exhibits first-rate depth and persistence. Patience advised here as well.” (04/2022)

“A smoky and complex nose, with a delicate plum and cherry fruit, then notes of leather and earth. The texture is silky and very fine, yet does not lack in structure or grip, with an emphasis entirely on finesse. David Croix’s 0.3ha parcel in Beaune Grèves is at the same altitude as Bouchard's 'Baby Jesus', but it is just a bit to the north. Half of the fruit is vinified as whole bunches, extraction is carefully done and the wine is aged without the use of new oak. (CC)” (11/2021)

“Rich deep dark purple with a light reduction. Plenty going on here and very backward. Massive dark red cherry fruit, some tannins but fine grained, only a little acidity, 49% whole bunch helps the finish. This is very backward at this stage, but clearly has the potential to develop into a significantly fine wine for the long term.” (10/2021)

“The 2020 Beaune Grèves 1er Cru has 50% whole bunch. It has a more introverted bouquet and demands coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing light pencil box scents entwined with the red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, quite mineral driven, the stems conspicuous towards the saline finish with a very marine-influenced aftertaste. Give this time in bottle because it's a peach. (NM)” (12/2021)