From a lovely little winery I visited in Beaune, March 2013 (see this post for details about the visit).
I had the fortune to impress upon a (now defunct) distributor to bring into the Maryland market a selection of these wines from a (now defunct) importer. Another fortune bestowed upon me was the opportunity to bring a six-bottle cross-section of these home for personal consumption. Down to my last two, I was faced with two premier cru Pinot Noir bottlings: a Pommard (which, by my estimation, likely has several years more life in bottle—for another, special day) and this, a Santenay (which by some accounts is in the latter third of its drinking window).
Appearance: deep, black-cored ruby—like The Dark Crystal
Nose: bright red cherry, cinnamon, licorice
Palate: high-toned red cherry, lemon, blood orange, pomegranate, delicate cinnamon/clove, licorice
Mouthfeel: lean and acidically gripping—like sucking a fresh lemon
Finish: fine, chalky tannins; long-lingering citrus acidity and delicate, high-toned pomegranate spice
Tasty, but the acidity demands food. Lean and not readily approachable solely due to the bracing acid as all other elements are really quite pleasant. Still young yet—well within its drinking window (I’d say, another decade lies in this bottle) despite the gentle tannins given the assertive acid. The fruit may never come into balance with the acid here, however.
I like this, but another several years may not be enough to make it accessible to the masses.