94

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2016 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru offers intense aromas of raspberry, crushed strawberry and pomegranate on the nose. Fuller and fruitier than its peers, almost playful in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. A fine bead of acidity, tightens up towards the finish that has more structure and body than the nose implies. This has two personalities at the moment, the Janus of Clos-de-Bèze. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. 11/2018

95

Jasper Morris

Inside Burgundy

Rich full purple. A concentrated but sombre nose. This is very backward indeed, and what a massive intensity there is on the palate. Perhaps lacks precision but what an onslaught of concentrated fruit. Very slightly on the raw side. A muscular interpretation of Clos de Bèze. Tasted Sep 2019.

95

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

The 2016 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is also showing superbly, offering up aromas of cassis, grilled meats, pungent spices and a savory bass-note reminiscent of oyster sauce. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with velvety structuring tannins, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. It isn't quite as multidimensional or complete as this year's spectacular Ouvrées Rodin bottling, but it's a very fine Clos de Bèze. This was an impressive tasting with Eve and Erwan Faiveley and able winemaker Jérôme Flous. Likening the vintage to "a broader-shouldered 2007," a judgment with which I wholeheartedly concur, Flous presented a selection of some of the 2017 portfolio's high points. Supple, expressive and nicely integrated, the reds showed very well; and the two whites were simply superb. I also revisited a selection of 2016s at my office in the United States, wines that are more classically balanced and seemingly more consistent than Faiveley's 2015s. I'll be reporting more on the winemaking and vineyard changes that have ushered in a new era at this address—as well as publishing the results of a vertical of the emblematic Clos des Corton Faiveley—in the near future. In the meantime, all these offerings come warmly recommended. 01/2019