92+ The Rossignols’ parcel in Combottes is always the very first vines that are harvested at the domaine, as they sit up high in the vineyard where the soil is very much defined by its fine, small stones here that retain heat and ripen the grapes ahead of all their other premier crus. Further down the slope (where the Domaine Dujac parcel is for example), the soil has more clay and less stones in it and it is substantially cooler and a bit slower to ripe than up at the top. 2012 Combottes was a bit more closed on the palate than the lovely Cherbaudes, but just as precise and pure on the nose, which offers up a lovely mélange of red and black plums, cocoa powder, a beautifully complex base of soil, a touch of fresh nutmeg woodsmoke and a gentle topnote of fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and nicely reserved in profile, with a fine core of fruit, excellent soil signature, suave tannins and lovely length and grip on the focused and youthfully complex finish. This will be a gorgeous middleweight in the fullness of time.

(WA90-92 points) The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes has a more complex, nuanced bouquet than the Cherbaudes with attractive forest floor/sous-bois scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a chewy entry. Plenty of matiere here with a long raspberry and mineral finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This Combottes has a nice swagger about it – it just knows how good it will be. - Neal Martin

An interesting hint of white pepper adds breadth to the otherwise more typical aromas of spice, floral, earth and cool wild red berry fruit aromas. There is good punch and detail to the refined middle weight flavors that exude a fine minerality on the austere, focused and linear finish. This is really very pretty though it will need a few years to add weight and flesh out. 2022+