2019 - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques Vieille Vigne, Fourrier

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru, which I never tasted from barrel, has a sublime bouquet that is the paragon of Pinot's transparency. Perfumed with joyous red fruit, crushed stone and a touch of wilted rose petal, the aromatics whisk you to the famed walled vineyard. The palate is beautifully balanced with slightly chalky tannins and a surfeit of energy and tension. It’s quite linear and strict toward the finish that just loses its initial crystalline quality. But still, this is a very great wine from Jean-Marie Fourrier. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Offering up aromas of wild berries, cassis, peonies, exotic spices and orange rind, Fourrier's 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques is medium to full-bodied, lively and enveloping, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and fine concentration. Seamless and elegant, it's an especially sensual vintage of this cvuée.

Cask sample. Really complex nose and then immediate fruity charm of 2019 on the palate but with high-toned notes of marrons glacés. Very smart with lovely freshness as well as all that flavour. The geographical advantage of this vineyard plus the magic of Fourrier are a hugely seductive combination, despite the truly eye-watering price. (JR)