45 year old vines from cool marne white clay soils at the top of the slope, all destemmed, cold soak then 18 months in 1/3 new barriques. Bramble and dark berry fruit with strong minerality and portion of small millerande berries resulting in a dark and intense wine with longevity.
Upright and a tad haughty on the nose. It sweeps away on the palate, supple at first, but quickly the tension, bite, and stony grip come to the fore. Gunflint and a cold clack. Really rather strict. Elegance and power combine. 2027–35+.
Here too the wood treatment framing the ripe but nicely cool aromas of red and dark raspberry coulis is quite subtle. The strikingly concentrated larger-scaled, more powerful and more mineral-driven flavors exude an abundance of dry extract that imparts a sappy texture and buffers the very firm tannic spine on the austere and built-to-age finale. This is a Clos des Chênes to buy and forget for at least 8 to 10 years. (Drink starting 2032). 91-93 Points
