2018 - Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras, Ghislaine Barthod

The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras may well prove to be the highpoint of a magical portfolio chez Barthod, and it will be worth a special effort to seek out. Unwinding in the glass with scents of dark berries, raspberries, exotic spices, sweet soil tones and peonies, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and velvety, with a textural attack that segues into a deep and layered mid-palate, underpinned by bright acids and ripe tannins, before concluding with a long, perfumed and exquisitely mineral finish.

The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru is missing some vigour on the nose compared to its peers, pretty dark berry fruit laced with brown spices, yet lacking some vigour and verve. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, quite structured and Morey-like with touches of graphite towards the finish. This is a little "serious" at the moment and maybe just lacks a bit of persistence, but age should see some melioration. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.