This is fragrant and complex, exhibiting sandalwood, vanilla, violet, black cherry and black currant aromas and flavors. Supple and fluid, balanced by fine supporting tannins and a long, fruit-, spice- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2043. 144 cases imported.

The 2016 Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes, Francois Labet's old-vine cuvée, is dark, dense and powerful. Black cherry, plum, gravel, spice and licorice give the 2016 a real feeling of gravitas. The Vieilles Vignes is an imposing, brooding Burgundy. It comes across as heavy and overextracted. I prefer the straight bottling for its greater aromatic depth and finesse.