2011 - Echezeaux Grand Cru Clos Frantin, Albert Bichot (Clos Frantin)

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. Deep in color, the Echézeaux 2011 from Bichot has a fruit-driven, rather obvious bouquet that is missing the complexity of its peers: black cherries and blueberry fruit, juniper and a touch of sloes. The palate is medium-bodied with thick chewy tannins. This has good weight with layers of bold black spicy fruit. It is rather assertive, almost aggressive on the finish, although it lacks persistence. Punchy but needing more style.

Dark fruit for the first time in this tasting but perfumed too. Toasty oak. Moreish and remarkably soft already though not light or thin, just very smoothed. Even though it is rounded, there's still a fresh and spicy aftertaste that lingers long. (JH)