2013 Arlaud Morey-St-Denis Ruchots

The 2013 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru les Ruchots, which was picked five days prior to the Aux Chezeaux, has a sedate, quite floral bouquet with subtle violet petal scents emerging with aeration. It remains placid in the glass and gently grows in intensity as it loses its inhibitions. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin. This is a les Ruchots with a "steely gaze," never taking its eye off the ball, almost stoic on the intense mineral finish. Excellent–but serious! 90-92 points

(from 40+ year old vines). There is enough reduction present to hide the nose but even the underlying fruit clearly seems ripe. There is equally good ripeness to the structural elements underpinning the rich, delicious and palate coating flavors that deliver fine depth and length on the well-balanced finish. Note that this is more robust than usual and will also require some patience to allow the relatively firm tannins to mellow. 90-92 points