(93-97 points) This wine was particularly late to complete its malolactic fermentation, so harder to judge, hence a wide spread to the score. Rich imperial dense purple. A little touch of reduction. Oak shows rather more, this is rather disjointed at this stage. There is a huge wealth of fruit for sure but too dissociated. It is clearly all there though, no reason to doubt the evolution of this wine.

(94 - 96 points) The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts was showing a little more reduction on the nose compared to the other cuvées. Underneath though, lies intense and quite voluminous red berry fruit, later rose petals, a touch of woodland coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with quite high-toned entry, vivacious blueberry fruit mixed with cassis and orange pith, then closing in quickly on a structure and grippy finish (it finished its malolactic not until September so this would explain this). It will require several years in bottle. It is not quite as audacious as the 2015 Malconsorts, but certainly a prince to that king.

The Malconsorts is one of the more backward wines in the Cathiard cellar, which Sébastian observes is always the case, but its considerable potential is clear. Aromas of ripe cherry, cassis, game bird, rich spice and smoky new oak are followed by a complete, full-bodied and tensile wine with superb intensity, a deep and sapid core of fruit, and lovely energy which persists through the long, penetrating finish. This is reserved, so only purchase this if you expect and intend to cellar it for a decade.