Batard Montrachet Grand Cru Cuvée Dame de Flandres 2016156th Hospices De Beaune Wine Auction on the 20th November 2016 Vintage Report The harvest was relatively late this year, so the wines have been tasted very soon after being racked out of their fermenting tanks into barrel. Nonetheless they are already showing their character. The wines capture the elegance of the vintage, coming after the more massive 2015s, and show a fine sense of their terroirs. The few grapes that there were, after the frost,

A broad wine with compelling purity

The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin

matured in 77% new oak

precise and sleekly muscled finish

told me that the beginning of September had overripe grapes with passerillage – the second part had very good levels of botrytis

the palate has fantastic intensity and tension

the palate is packed with tightly knit

poached pear

The robe is yellow light colour

Moderate wood sets off the ripe and fresh if restrained aromas of soft earth

blackcurrant and wilted violet scents rendering it almost more Margaux-like than Saint Julien

the 2017 Sociando-Mallet gives aromas of fragrant earth