A wine that reveals an ample, outgoing and broad nose that embraces the more opulent side of the 2011 vintage, but also with pronounced whole-cluster fermentation notes of spice, sweet leather and earth. Mouth-filling and intense, it finishes moderately chewy with a firm texture, though its fresh acidity gives the wine a slightly airier feel than its weight would suggest. (Drink between 2024-2040)

An even and bright mid-red colour. The bouquet is most alluring with whole bunch harmony and nothing green. A light veneer of oak. In common with other wines in 2011, there is no great concentration, but this is really pleasing and fully ready to drink, with a light chocolate note to finish. I suspect that this is exactly the wine that Thierry Brouin was aiming to make. No change over time, except perhaps a lengthening of the finish.

The 2011 Clos des Lambrays is a very red fruity and transparent young vintage for this wine. The pure and classy bouquet offers up a mélange of cherries, blood orange, mustard seed, coffee, a complex signature of its underlying terroir, smoke and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very young, with lovely soil signature, a fine core and a fair bit of chewy tannins perking up the focused and long and tangy finish. This is going to be a lovely, soil-driven middleweight at its apogee, with excellent complexity and breed.

The aromas are dominated by floral, vegetal and spice notes, followed by a beam of pure cherry. Turns deeper and more complex as the finish unleashes fruit, sandalwood and mineral flavors. Excellent length. Best from 2016 through 2030.

A still somewhat restrained nose features notes of fresh red berries, plum, spice and violets. The medium-weight plus flavors possess a sleek and relatively precise mouthfeel before terminating in long, balanced and delicious if slightly strict finish where a touch of minerality adds lift. With 30 or so minutes of air, this nicely crafted and solidly complex effort drinks reasonably well though a few more years of cellaring should be beneficial.