Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2011, Drouhin Laroze

The Domaine Drouhin Laroze has a stunning range of reds from the Côte de Nuits and its also possible to have a home-made lunch in their small dining room that faces onto the vines behind the property. Great idea as long as you have time to sleep off the multiple egg dishes in the afternoon. For years I have considered the domaine's Gevrey a benchmark for the village yet they do not appear in the Norman/Taylor book on the Great Domaines of Burgundy. This Bonnes Mares 2011 starts on a pert aroma of violets, there is black currant, there is cherry, the nose is moderately open. Very good fruit shines through on the palate, leans somewhat on the tannins due to the difficulty of getting a perfect balance in 2011. Clearly a very high quality wine yet with a broad envelope of potential evolution and so scores 20-24/30 for a Bonnes Mares. Photo shows Peter trying to walk off his 12 egg lunch before going to Domaine Trapet.