Domaine Chanson Beaune Clos des Roi Premier Cru 2016, Burgundy, France

The vineyard of “Clos du Roi” is located below “Les Marconnets” on a fold in the hill. This old property of the Dukes of Burgundy was annexed by King Louis XI of France after the death of Charles the Bold, hence the reference to “the king’s” vineyard. Chanson owns around 3 ha,or 35% of the climat. Two thirds of the vines here owned by Chanson are planted with Pinot Noir. The plot is low on the slope, and known to produce elegant, stylish wines for relatively early drinking. A very pungent nose is composed of reduction, menthol and wood toast. Otherwise there is good freshness to the velvet-textured and mouth coating middle weight flavors that possess a juicy and fleshy mouth feel while delivering fine length on the chewy and serious finale. This isn’t an elegant wine and it’s unusually structured for Clos du Roi but it should make for a fine effort if it’s allowed at least 6 to 8 years of cellaring.