Bouchard Père & Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2016

Once again reduction and sulphur mask the underlying fruit at present. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated and almost painfully intense flavours brim with both dry extract and evident minerality while delivering huge length on the youthfully austere finish that goes on and on. This muscular effort is terrific but be aware that this is definitely going to need time.

Pale, bright yellow. Subtle floral lift to the aromas of lemon, lime, menthol and chalky minerality. Dense, tactile, dry and deep, conveying a solid impression without any heaviness. Citrus peel, lavender and subtle nutmeg flavours show lovely mineral firmness and grip for the year. There's a soil-driven chewiness here that's as much Corton-Charlemagne as the vintage, but no hard edges. Finishes with sneaky rising length, pungent citrus fruits and crushed-rock minerality. Really leaves the taste buds quivering. This surprisingly smooth Corton-Charlemagne is built for a graceful evolution in bottle.