This too sports very generous oak with a slightly riper red and black fruit profile that includes intense earth and underbrush tones that continue onto the rich full and intense medium-bodied flavors blessed with ample dry extract that buffers the firm tannic spine on the lingering finish. This is less powerful than it usually is but it's a quality effort and better than the regular cuvée if only just.

This grand cru bridges power and elegance though it shows little of itself now. The tight pinot noir flavors have a sweet juiciness the tannins a cherry-skin savor. The texture is smooth and the flavors should grow more detailed and evocative with time.