Bonnes Mares, Bouchard Père et Fils 2018

The Bouchard holding is in the form of long rows covering both colours of soil but the white soil part is currently pulled out for replanting. Massively dense purple colour with an excellent weight of fruit on the nose, not too clumsy. Plums and bramble jelly. Brilliantly intense on the palate, more plump fruit than savoury, but it is inherently balanced at the finish. Balanced tannins.

Naughty heavy bottle. Medium-deep colour. Rich, multi-layered nose of slate, clove, red fruit and spice that is beautifully integrated. That integration and finesse continues through the palate, with beautiful, elegant tannins. This is a triumph of how to handle intensity and structure without being stolid. Bravo! Drink: 2026-2040