- 93 points -

(89-92) Points

Reduction once again renders the nose unreadable. By contrast there is good freshness, intensity and precision to the delicious flavors where the supporting tannins are actually relatively fine in the context of an Aloxe 1er, all wrapped in a complex finale that delivers sneaky good length.

(90-92) POINTS

(from a crop level of 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Liger-Belair; 100% destemmed): Moderately saturated medium red. High-toned aromas of sappy raspberry and roast coffee. Sweet but a bit subdued in the mouth, with a rather linear quality to its red fruit flavors. Not a fleshy or easygoing style but delivers lovely purity and thrust. And the fine-grained tannins arrive late, allowing the wine's perfume to build. These vines are at least 50 years old, according to Liger-Belair.

(89-91) POINTS

Reduction. There is more size, weight and richness to the intensely mineral-driven
medium weight flavors that possess a rounded mid-palate but again tighten up immediately on the dusty, linear and moderately austere finale. This should benefit from a few years of bottle age to add depth and flesh out.

(90-92) POINTS

(this site features barely a foot of dark soil over limestone and rock; entirely destemmed): Dark red-ruby. Fresh, subtle aromas of smoky black cherry, spices and sexy earth tones. A supple, juicy midweight, with nicely focused berry and cherry fruit flavors accented by spices. Ripe tannins spread out to dust the palate on the firm but sweet back end. These vines escaped the frost in 2016.

(87-89) Points

This too possesses a very pretty nose that offers up notes of the essence of black raspberry, cassis, violet and a whiff of earth. There is good volume and richness to the supple, round and delicious medium bodied flavors where the ever-so-mildly spiky finish may well round out with a few years of bottle age.

(89-91) Points

(made from purchased grapes): Bright, deep red. Raspberry and smoky minerals on the lightly reduced nose. Dense and sweet for this cuvée, which is usually more austere in the early going. The flavors of black cherry, stone and earth expand on the back, with supple tannins providing shape without cutting off the wine's fruit.

(88-91) Points

(destemmed): Bright medium red. Reduced nose hints at red berries and spices. Then juicy and penetrating on the palate, conveying lovely intensity and energy to the flavors of redcurrant, cherry and crushed rock. In a savory style, with moderate flesh. Juicy and imploded in the early going but the tannins are suave and the wine spreads out subtly to dust the palate on the back end.

90-92 Points

The 2017 Aloxe-Corton La Toppe Au Vert 1er Cru contains no whole clusters (there will be some in 2018) since the vines are planted on shallow soils. It has an expressive bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, rose petal and a touch of orange pith. This feels open and generous already - quite precocious for the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well judged acidity, smooth texture and a little corpulence toward the candied finish. This will be difficult to resist in its youth - you have been warned.

(88-91) POINTS

This is also quite aromatically cool with its pretty and airy nose of essence of red berries, earth and a subtle floral wisp. There is equally good purity to the satin-textured middle weight flavors that possess fine precision while delivering fine length on the linear and somewhat youthfully strict finish(...)

(88-91) POINTS

Reduction. There is more size, weight and richness to the intensely mineral-driven medium weight flavors that possess a rounded mid-palate but again tighten up immediately on the dusty, linear and moderately austere finale. This should benefit from a few years of bottle age to add depth and flesh out.

(89-91) Points

There is a top note of green tea to the very fresh red berry fruit suffused nose. The
mouth feel of the middle weight and intensely mineral-inflected flavors is sleek, even satiny, all wrapped in a focused, balanced and lingering finish. This is on the lighter side but packs good flavor authority.

89-92

(from 60-year-old vines now farmed en bio): Medium red. Highly perfumed aromas of cherry, leather, lavender and honey. Juicy and delicate but sappy and sweet, showing very good lift to its red fruit and spice flavors. Finishes with suave tannins and lovely lingering perfume. Light but not at all meager; hardly your typical Corton wine but I like it.