A deep well of black cherry, blackberry, spice, sandalwood and floral aromas and flavors are alluring in this suave red. Fresh and harmonious, in a youthfully exuberant way, ending with a cascade of complex flavors and vibrant acidity. Best from 2022 through 2038. — B.S.

(91-93) A fresh, cool and beautifully layered liqueur-like nose speaks of both red and dark cherry that is trimmed in moderately prominent wood elements. The exceptionally rich, powerful and overtly muscular broad-shouldered flavors possess an impressive concentration of dry extract that imparts a velvety texture to the long, serious and strikingly long, mineral-inflected and youthfully austere finish. This is finer if not necessarily more concentrated than the Commaraine but it is certainly firmer.

Very ripe cherry nose with a hint of boiled sweets but not jammy. Rich, rounded and full-bodied, this has shoulders and density but lacks some finesse. More bottle age is needed to moderate the chewiness of the finish. Read more at https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/france/burgundy/louis-jadot-pommard-1er-cru-rugiens-burgundy-2016-28086#pflK9rmRvlqkHHOW.99

91+ always like the Rugiens at Louis Jadot and the 2016 is another fine example in the making. The wine is properly reserved out of the blocks, but shows the elegant veneer of 2016 in its fine bouquet of cherries, red plums, incipient notes of venison, lovely spice tones, woodsmoke and a gentle framing of cedary wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full and nicely transparent, with a superb core of fruit, fine-grained tannins and a long, vibrant and nascently complex finish. All this needs is bottle age!