Gevrey-Chambertin "Les Seuvrées" Vieilles Vignes 2012, Michel Magnien

Tasted at the domaine in late May, this Gevrey hails from vines which range from 50 to 80 years old. Proper old vines. Inevitably this means lower yields as vines over 40 years old produce fewer grapes. Wonderful for us wine tasters. Reflecting the concentration of the pinot grapes from these gnarly old vines, the nose is brooding, lurking, a Newfoundland in a cave. Like all the other wines from the domaine, the picking is done by hand and there are as many as 10 people sorting good grapes from bad at the table de tri. There is blackberry and apple on this -- ripe berry fruit with a good lacing of acidity. Its earthy, mineral and that tangyness comes back in the blood orange flavour combined with gobs of berry and plum fruit. The acidity is elevated compared to the norm, the structure is full, needs another 4 years to resolve its sharp edges. Subjected to just one racking from the lees and aged 18 months in barrel this Gevrey was bottled according to the lunar calendar. Awooo, awooo, woof, woof. Scores 22-24/30 for a Gevrey.