2020 Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur Echezeaux Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France

Producer Notes
As previously reported, Bernard Gros has ceded the direction of the domaine to his son Vincent, who commented that the 2021 vintage was "challenging but in the end, it was no worse than 2020 in terms of volume, though for very different reasons. There was of course the frost, but the flowering didn't pass especially well as there was a lot of shatter. In the end, we were off about 35%, which is to say about 30 hl/ha. We picked from the 23rd of September and brought in ripe fruit despite the coolness of the growing season. Potential alcohols were in the 12.5 to 13% range and thus there was no need to chaptalize. I did concentrate the Vosne villages but not the rest of the range. As to the wines, they're what I would call classically styled and definitely not at all like the trio of 2018 to 2020." I found much to like in both the 2021 and 2020 vintages, and these are wines to check out as they typically sell for reasonable prices, at least in the context of the current marked for Vosne grand crus. I would repeat my comment from last year that Vincent decided to radically reduce the oak influence in his wines and it is definitely noticeable and, in my view, a welcome change. The 2020s, reviewed below, were bottled in February 2022.

Press
Rate 91 Points Burghound
Here the ripe and layered nose reflects notes of plum liqueur and black fruit compote while displaying plenty of spice and floral nuances. The sleeker and finer middleweight flavors are at once suave and succulent before culminating in a lingering and solid complex finish that tightens up on the youthfully austere finale. This should be approachable after 5-ish years and reward a decade plus of keeping.