Tasted in Vosne-Romanée with Alice Rion, 03 November 2018.

Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion
8 route Nationale
21700, Vosne-Romanée
Tel: +33 3 80 61 05 31
www.domainerion.fr

Alice comparing 2018 and 2017:
“Actually we had more volume in 2018 than in 2017 – it looks like better quality too. We use almost no new oak in our regional wines, but 50% in the villages, 60% for 1er crus and 100% for the grand crus. All-told we commercialise about 40,000k bottles, though recently, we bought some villages grapes for first time! The 2017s have a little more volume and richness vs 2014. All the 2017 reds were bottled in October 2018.”

The wines…

The Chambolle is the best I’ve ever tasted here – more precise and with such a great back-end flavour. I bought some – what’s more to say?

2017 Bourgogne Aligoté
No oak, bottled in May – the same as for the rosé, old vines here
Hmm, a sweet, pure, nose, yet round and rich with depth. Faint salinity, delicious flavour with some savoury notes in finish. Two characters in one wine…

2017 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge
New vines for here Magny Les Villars. The last picked vines of the domaine – bigger barrels – 450 litre
A deep nose, quite oaked. Hmm, super texture, again saline and complex. Only 3 weeks in bottle but showing very well. Long. Wait for the oak to fade, but this is very attractive.

2017 Chambolle-Musigny Les Echézeaux
There was none in 2016 – all frosted.
Hmm, a vibrantly aromatic nose. Hmm (again) – wide, supple, with depth of flavour – beautiful, depth – a little bitters in the finish – this is super, I love the width and complex depth of finishing flavour. I bought some!

2016 Vosne-Romanée Dame Juliette
A blend of three climats.
Full but denser nose. Intense, concentrated, layered. Long. Rather good.

2016 Nuits St.Georges 1er Damodes
Hmm, more open, more spiced. Hmm, sexier(sorry) wide, involving, fresh flavors. Elegant, delicious wine – so good!