Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Joseph Drouhin 2016 (750ML)

93-95 Points, Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Montrachet Grand Cru (Marquis de Laguiche) felt very closed and taciturn on the nose when I tasted it, despite rigorous coaxing. The palate is well balanced with a lightly honeyed, spicy opening, more saline than the Corton-Charlemagne with a long aftertaste carried by a tang of ginger that leaves the mouth tingling. It will deserve 5 or 6 years in bottle, but it will be worth the wait." 12/17

92-95 Points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous: "(production here was less than 50% of a normal crop but Drouhin benefited by being on the Puligny side of this grand cru as the Montrachet vines in Chassagne were decimated by frost): Pale bright yellow. Aromas of ripe apricot, pear, smoke and iodine along with a trace of apple from a lot that finished its malo late. (Drouhin began with three cuvées, one picked very early, one in the middle of the harvest and one later on.) Thick, sweet and voluptuous in the mouth, but with its intense stone fruit flavors nicely framed by integrated acidity. Almost creamy in texture and harmonious from the start. Finishes with firm, dusty tannins and terrific palate-staining length. This really saturates the mouth and leaves the taste buds quivering." 6/17

95 Points, Burghound: " A strikingly pretty and layered nose reflects notes of mineral reduction, citrus peel, acacia blossom, spice and essence of green apple. There is excellent freshness and terrific intensity to the big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that brim with impressive amounts of dry extract on the balanced and explosively long finish that really fans out as it sits on the palate. This is very much still a work in progress and I would recommend not touching a bottle for at least 5 years and 12 to 15 would be better." 6/18

97 Points, John Gilman: "With twenty-five percent of the ownership of the vineyard of Montrachet, the Marquis de Laguiche family was very fortunate to have the frost damage more modest on their end of the vineyard in 2016. Still, a fifty percent crop loss is far from insignificant, but happily, it has allowed the Drouhins to produce a proper cuvée of the wine in this vintage and the results are absolutely stunning! The bouquet here is pure, vibrant and bottomless, with aromas of apple, pear, lemon blossoms, gorgeously complex, chalky minerality, crème patissière and vanillin oak jumping from the glass. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and full, with a seamless sense of structural beauty that is quite extraordinary. There is plenty of soil signature, a great core of fruit, bright, zesty acids and a very long, racy and complex finish that is every bit as worthy as the loft reputation of Montrachet at its finest. A brilliant vintage of Laguiche! (Drink between 2023-2060)" 11/17