Vosne Romanée, La Croix Rameau, 1er Cru, 2009

There are few growers who manipulate vines in this tiny enclave within Romanée-St.-Vivant – it is therefore little known and rarely seen; however, it is capable of producing exceptional wines. The 2009 is glorious, as velvety and silky as the Suchots but a tad more reticent and more refined and focused. Beautiful, bursting fruit flavours of red berries, currants, bullace and bright cherries, with a refreshing, shimmering mineral quality too. Fine fruit tannins provide sufficient grip and the finish is haunting.