(91-94) Reduction. Interestingly, the palate impression of the medium weight flavors is even finer with terrific vibrancy and minerality where the intensity really builds from the mid-palate on back to the explosively long finish. This dusty effort is quite serious and will also need at least some bottle age before it could be reasonably approachable.

A sun-kissed bouquet of ripe black fruit, wild berries and dark spice is framed by new oak, leading into a full-bodied, concentrated palate with the most depth and dimension of Cheurlin’s premiers crus this year. Its tannins are supple, with a core of deep fruit. Compelling and already very complete. (Drink between 2020-2030)

The 2016 Beaux Monts was one of the first wines to finish its malo in the cellars this year, having completed this in July, and the wine was in beautiful form at the time of my visit. The bouquet is deep, pure and sappy, offering up a fine blend of black cherries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, venison, a fine base of soil, woodsmoke and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and loaded with pure fruit at the core, with excellent transparency, ripe, suave tannins and a very long, complex and vibrant finish. A beautiful example in the making.

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts is showing well from bottle, unwinding in the glass to offer up a youthfully reserved bouquet of blackberries, cherries, plums, grilled game bird, rich soil and smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, rich and voluptuous, with a succulent core of fruit, vibrant fruit flavors and a fine-grained framing of structuring tannins. It's appreciably more reserved than earlier renditions of this cuvée, perhaps because Maxime Cheurlin now has an air-conditioned cellar and is maturing his wine for two winters in barrel. It will be interesting to follow its evolution over the coming decade. - William Kelley

Clear bright fresh purple of good depth, with a powerful and very classy bouquet, though perhaps a hint of oxidation. Quite ripe, some floral notes but a few prunes too. A little bit of spice underneath. Would have liked a touch more freshness, otherwise very good. Tasted: September 2019.

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru has a seductive bouquet with perfumed red cherry and raspberry fruit, rose petal and hints of vanilla pod emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy dark berry fruit laced with black tea and mineral notes. This is a little stoic for a Vosne-Romanée, but I appreciate its reserve. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. -- Neal Martin