The nose has both depth and density – it is floral and quite distinguished. Full, concentrated and with an undercurrent of acidity; everything expanding further in the mid-palate bringing and extra depth. The length seems to have a stickiness – super-long – bravo!
Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2008 Belland Roger Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2007 Belland Roger Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2008 Belland Roger Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2007 Belland Roger Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2001 Jadot Louis Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
Given the deep colour I have a concern about oxidation, and there is an edge to the nose, but there’s also still enough detailed, pretty fruit to keep my interest. Across your tongue there’s plenty of freshness and a very good balance. The flavour is quite savoury in the mid-palate and it’s quite long too – detailed but no fireworks. Blind, I certainly wouldn’t assume this to be a grand cru that costs more than €100. Eventually my glass gives up more aromas of oxidation. My neighbour pulls a face when he smells my glass – he enjoyed his very much, but it was from another bottle.
2006 Potel Nicolas Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
2006 Potel Nicolas Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
The best young white I tasted last year, indeed in the last couple of years – expecations were positioned! Pale yellow. The aromas are very tight – the wine was too ambitiously cooled given the 30° temperatures. Some fat, but balanced and with a width on the mid-palate and finishing length that was on another level to the Caillerets – yet disappointing. Okay, if it’s too cold, I’ll encourage it to warm and open by decanting. As it warmed it put on weight, but no sign of the palate staining flavours of last year. Eventually a faint but unmistakable note appeared on the nose – cork. We actually drank it all, as it was still a better wine than the Caillerets, but what should have been a resounding bottle was merely a sombre one – bugger!
2006 Belland Roger Criots Bâtard-Montrachet
The nose instantly shows that you get what you pay for; a superb extra dimension of fruit, broad but not clumsy, it’s fantastic. In the mouth it’s concentrated, even slightly heavy but never cloying. A super-intense mid-palate and achingly long. Wow. Outrageously boisterous and full-packed, even at 198 francs a bottle you could be forgiven for popping one of these already…