This is reserved to the point of being all but inexpressive and it required considerable swirling to coax the dark berry fruit, warm earth, humus and gamy scents that are trimmed in a background touch of wood from the glass. The very rich, full-bodied and powerful flavors possess first-rate mid-palate concentration that flash more evident minerality on the serious, firmly structured, youthfully austere and beautifully persistence finish. This too is excellent but I underscore that it's a 'buy and forget you own it Clos du Roi'.

(92-94 points) The 2016 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru was the more "fermé" of the three Cortons that I tried from the domaine, though gradually subtle floral/white flower aromas emerge. The palate is very well balanced and much more expressive with ebullient blackberry and bilberry fruit, plenty of sappiness that gets the saliva flowing on the finish. Sporting the best length of the three Cortons, this is the pick from the domaine in 2016. - NM