Tasted in Beaune with David Croix, 07 November, 2016.
Domaine des Croix
2 Rue Colbert
21200 Beaune
Tel: +33 3 80 22 41 81
Selected quotes from David:
“In 2016 you can see that we have only 20 barrels. Honestly when I surveyed the vines in August I was expecting only 10-15… (dDC with normal yields makes over 100 barrels…)
“The hardest thing in 2015 was probably choosing the picking dates – some areas were potentially not ripe despite already showing 13° potentials. I used a bigger team and picked everything in 4 days – half the normal time.
“15 is a vintage that needed elevage, so I’m not in any rush. The wines have pretty ripe flavour but energy and length too – this is a signature of the vintage. The length, line and freshness is something that defines the vintage.
I have never seen wines like this before. Where there was enough rain I think these are more complete wines than 2005.”
The wines…
For a while, I’ve considered this the greatest domaine in Beaune – these wines amply justify my thoughts…
2015 Beaune
This a blend of fruit from 4 vineyards. No sulfur yet, this will be racked sometime soon.
Big round, starting almost with a malo impression, but becoming more floral with time. Bright, direct, fresh, juicy wine.
2015 Aloxe-Corton Les Boutières
One parcel.
A bright nose, growing round and red. More intense, more direct, but then come the waves of flavour. A little tannin and lot of length. Yum!
From 4 parcels, 2 at the bottom, 2 at the top – the top destemmed. This wine is 40% from the top.
Big, wide, textured, ripe and welcoming. Big, with lots of oak flavour and a little whole cluster flavour – waves of fresh attack. Bravo! Real intensity in the finish…
Dynamic, floral, gorgeous fruit. The palate is also endowed with fine energy and a faintly creamed direct flavour – simply bravo! Few words for such a fine wine…
2015 Beaune 1er Bressandes
Ooh, deep, bloody fruit, earthy brambles. Big in the mouth, a wine that almost shouts, indeed it shouts so loud you can’t hear (see) the 14%! Reminds me of David’s Clos du Roi chez Camille Giroud – Corton Clos du Roi that is! A wine that’s more savage than brutal. A super ride.
A more considered, tighter even, textured fruit. Oooh… deeply intense flavour, width, depth, faint oak. Wow wine.
A cool area, with shallow topsoil closer to Pommard. Super dark colour, yet from only 3 punchdowns – 14.2%!
A little reduced, a suggestion of aromatic silkiness, but tight. Really lots of volume, a waterfall of flavour – the delivery of which reminds me a great white. And, of course fabulously finishing. A great wine – young or old.
Lovely red fruit, floral inflected. Beautiful layers, no, not layers, waves of flavour this is mobile. Actually this is fabulous, and with massive aging potential. The best vintage of this wine I’ve tasted
Deep, deep colour. Super deep aromas too, less wide, with fresh top notes. More textured, a faintly floral edged, sweet and acidulated fruit. Another different style, but again fabulously so…