Domaine Michel Magnien Clos La Roche Grand Cru 2017

Wine & Spirits
This domaine includes a parcel within Clos de la Roche, adjacent to Clos St-Denis, planted on brown limestone soils where the vines give a powerful grand cru wine. Frederic Magnien included 29 percent whole clusters in the fermentation of this wine, aging 46 percent of the lot in terra cotta amphora, the balance in old Francois Freres oak barrels. This 2017 is walled off by the intensity of its red fruit, integrated into the mineral intensity of the tannins. A hint of lifted floral spice develops over the course of several days as the texture turns suave, but the wine still speaks more about structure than flavor. It's sleek and vibrant, with energy that converts the refined scent of oak barrels into the kind of spice that only adds bliss to the wine itself.

Burghound
This is more aromatically expressive than usual with its combination of relatively elegant notes of red currant, raspberry, spice, earth and discreet floral nuances. There is once again fine volume to the detailed and muscular big-bodied flavors that display power on the palate coating, youthfully austere and very firm finish. While this could be approached after only 5-ish years, it should improve for 15+.