14.5% abv, Maison de Pierreux, Odenas, imported by Boisset Collection USA, St. Helena, CA
At the foot of the glistening blue granite Mont Brouilly, the Boisset family have a majestic 200-hectare property of goblet-trained Gamay Noir vines surrounding a 13th century fairytale castle. The vines are farmed organically with biodynamic conversion ongoing, and the wines are made by the talented local vignerons Alain Dugoujard and cellarmaster Lydia Nesme. Two wines are produced in volume, the Réserve du Château and the Grand Reserve for a cuvée made from vines aged over 80 years. The Grand Réserve bottles a year later with additional aging in 450-liter demi muids of French origin.
The 2017 Grand Réserve opens with an enticing nose of boysenberry, black plum, graphite, violet and tarragon leaf. The palate is plenty dry with medium+ acid, a voluptuous full body, medium+ alcohol, medium tannins, and a medium+ finish that carries with flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, Japanese plum, and a touch of graphite and garrigue. This wine needs some time to resolve, it is a touch too young overall, and I suspect would be a better proposition to enjoy from 2023+ with legs to age for 15+ years, easily. Very good! 9.3/10