plus 1 (plus, plus plus)
re Bill in all respects.
Cut through the merchants 'selling bull shit', desole, they dont have to try hard, (apologies, not a lot of time here for elements of the UK trade), both Bill and myself 'got our hands very dirty' in this vintage amongst others (2015 - my 8th), but the fruit quality was clearly exceptional from the 'get go', better than 2014 which was pretty damn good (CdNuits for me) , as numerous vignerons/vigneronnes have said (to me). Tasting in Burgundy this last week, and listening to sentiment (to me the Burgundy vigneron mostly tells it as it is), 2015 is a seriously good vintage, along the lines of 2005. Whether ultimately better remains to be seen, and could be years off after I've departed, but the wines at this stage (for the most part - selection key as per usual) are remarkably 'easy' to taste, have super freshness, great balance/structure, but 'enough' for longevity. I'm getting a bit old for EP, and fortunately have a cellar of certain size, so can come to all this free of 'inhibition' but my long time Morey-St-Denis employer, bless him, isn't given to hyperbole and suffice to say he's pretty happy giving us a tasting of 23 different 2015 cuvees this week (despite his bad cold) - we only 'missed' the PTG because the barrels of that were too hard to reach ;-) .
Dont want to promote thread drift but, looking ahead, I have serious 'hopes' re elements of the press/merchant (insert rude words of choice for either & remember motives) much maligned 2016 - that is at least for the CdNuits that is (or parts of it). The flat, low lying lands, and certain premier crus less higher up, got hammered by frost, but otherwise some of the fruit quality I saw this harvest was just jaw droppingly fantastic . For example Domaine Arlaud, Morey, produced only 35% of the 'normal' Bourgogne Roncevie (5 ha), lost Chambolle Chatelots and Noirots in full, plus the negoce Nuits 1er Porrets St Georges, but the domaine Morey Village/1er crus, Gevrey 1er Combottes, Clos de la Roche & negoce Vosne 1er Petit-Monts were all just stunning in fruit terms. The press juice of CdlR was Ribena delish
For me, if I had the cash, was building a long term cellar, subject to prices not being too OTT stupid, and (the key as always) selectively, I'd fill my boots with 2015 in both colours although those in the know should have already done so re 2014 whites (and 2013/2012/2010 reds).