The 2020 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is well-defined on the nose with joyful brambly red fruit laced with crushed stone, certainly one of the more mineral-driven wines from the famed closed wall. There is an almost crystalline quality here. The palate is medium-bodied with a sense of strictness, fresh and quite sapid, not powerful yet taut, and has a finish that makes you want another sip. This is a 2020 that surpassed expectations. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. -- Neal Martin

(93-95 points) A brooding and densely fruited nose grudgingly reveals its array of dark berries, poached plum, warm earth and a soupçon of wood. The supple but mouth coating and velvet-textured larger scaled flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering excellent persistence on the youthfully austere, powerful and balanced finale. This excellent effort is very firm and should age accordingly; indeed two decades is not out of the question.

(92-95 points) “Its terroir immensely benefited from the dryness of the vintage,” said Grivot while serving his outstanding 2002 Clos Vougeot. Aromatically, this bold wine reveals loads of spicy red cherries. On the palate it is wonderfully sweet, velvety-textured, and extroverted. Copious quantities of red cherries, spices, candied raspberries and earth envelope this beauty’s ripe tannin. It will be delicious relatively young and should age extremely well. Projected maturity: 2007-2020.- PR

This round version is packed with ripe black cherry, violet, graphite and tobacco flavors. The silky texture and vibrant acidity work in tandem, while refined tannins provide support without getting in the way. There are a few edges to be worked out, yet this is long and concentrated. Best from 2027 through 2048. 90 cases imported.

Flamboyantly fruity and very approachable, the wine has an expressive cherry and rose petal fruit, with a hint of exotic spice. The texture is powerful, yet fresh enough to retain a compelling vivacity. Grivot owns a large parcel of 1.86ha in Quatorze Journaux along the bottom of the Route Nationale. The quality of the wine belies the received wisdom about this location. The grapes are destemmed and gently fermented, with the must lightly pumped over after a few initial punch-downs before ageing.

A dense colour on the blacker side of purple. This is very ripe on the nose, almost to the extent of soupy. Now some beery notes, so perhaps a touch of volatility. Plenty of oak at the back. Currently rather awkward but I am far from giving up hope. The score sits on the fence with benefit of doubt.