An overtly spicy and very earth nose of red currant, plum and wet stone scents. There is lovely richness to the round, full-bodied and highly energetic medium-bodied flavors that exhibit firm tannins on the saline-infused finish. This is excellent and should reward mid to longer-term cellaring.

The 2011 Clos de la Roche was also singing at the time of my visit, jumping from the glass in a blaze of red and black cherries, raw cocoa, a lovely base of minerality, fresh herb tones, violets and just a touch of spicy oak (again, this was raised entirely in one wine barrels and saw no new wood). On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very sappy at the core, with outstanding intensity, lovely complexity and outstanding focus and grip on the suavely-tannic and very, very long finish. A supremely elegant and very intense young Clos de la Roche.

Bright, dark red. Knockout nose combines dark berries, licorice, spices, violet, game and pepper, plus a whiff of caramel. Sweet, sappy and concentrated, with excellent spicy lift to the flavors of blueberry and black cherry. Mounts impressively on the chewy, tactile back end. (ST) 92+

The 2011 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a lifted bouquet, perhaps with a slight tinny element at the beginning: touches of red cherries, dried rose petals and wet clay. The palate is well-defined and cohesive with some conspicuous oak influence on the entry. It does not fan out, remaining linear and focused with a strict finish with slightly bitter fruit on the aftertaste. Fine. (NM)

Rich and broad and flattering nose. Very seductive. And with firm and fine and lovely texture. This is really very successful! Fine tannins. Quite different from the Gevreys but vinified the same–on purpose. 18/20 points (JR)