2012 Meo-Camuzet Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras

The 2012 Méo-Camuzet les Cras has really turned out well this year, offering up truly stunning transparency to this great terroir. The superb nose jumps from the glass in a mix of red plums, sappy cherries, cocoa, a wonderfully complex base of soil, a touch of nutskin, woodsmoke and a nice framing of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and very soil-driven, with a sappy core of red fruit, fine-grained tannins and excellent focus and grip on the very long and beautifully balanced and vibrant finish. This is a beautiful bottle of Chambolle in the making. 2020-2050. 92+ points

The 2012 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras is a négoçiant wine, but Jean-Nicolas informed me that the domaine manages the vineyard entirely. This was harvested within the first two days. It has a pleasing pomegranate and wild strawberry scented bouquet that is well-defined, almost Vosne-like in style. The palate is well structured with crisp, tensile tannins, plenty of red berry fruit but it just needs a little more presence towards the finish. That might manifest during the élevage. Quite stylish, though I might drink this perhaps in the first six or seven years after bottling. 88-90 points