Producer note: Nathalie Tollot described 2018 as one that "gave us both quantity and quality. We began picking on the 28th of August and continued through to the 6th of September. Last year we just weren't prepared for the yields despite having dropped an impressive amount of fruit via a green harvest. This year however we employed more pickers so that we could rapidly bring in another abundant harvest. We were helped considerably though not only because we had more harvesters but also because the harvest conditions were ideal, and the fruit was very clean so it could be processed quickly. Potential alcohols came in between 13.2 and 14.5% and we chose to vinify very softly as it was clear from the beginning that the extractions would happen almost by themselves. We did have a few fermentation stoppages though thankfully no technical deviations resulted. As to the wines, they are definitely ripe but in contrast to say 2003, the terroir differences are readily apparent." Tollot noted that the 2018s were bottled in January and February 2020. Note too that the Tollot wines are deliberately bottled with slightly higher levels of CO2 so decanting the wines is always a good idea. I have made this observation before but this domaine remains one of the finest sources of top value Burgundy and the quality achieved here in 2018 will only enhance that reputation. (Wine Bow; The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com, Tanners Wine, www.tanners-wines.co.uk, Domaine Direct, www.domainedirect.co.uk, Fields, Morris & Verdin, www.fmvwines.com, Justerini & Brooks, www.justerinis.com and O.W. Loeb, www.owloeb.com, all UK).
Tasting note: A fresher and not quite as ripe nose features notes of various dark berries along with plenty of newly turn earth elements. The plush, delicious and equally rich middle weight flavors possess slightly better depth and persistence on the mildly rustic finish that also flashes a touch of warmth.