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Visit Domaine Grivot: Tasting of the 2016s from cask

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Domaine Grivot seem to go from strength to strength making lovely and enjoyable wines. The 2015s showed very well indeed, with their generous and charming style. The 2016 vintage is quite another ballgame, as the April frost played a big role in how the individual wines have turned out.

This is especially the case for the larger estates like Domaine Grivot – who owns plots in many terroirs and quite a few appellations. The 2016 vintage can make for a rather bumpy ride style and sometimes even quality wise – and while the 2016s from Grivot are showing very well – there are quite some variation in the style due to the frost.

2016 is indeed an intriguing vintage

Impressions from the tasting of the 2016s from Domaine Grivot

This year Mathilde Grivot had samples prepared that was ready for the tasting in the cellar – so samples rather than tasting directly from the barrel – very efficiant.

The 2016s from Domaine Grivot are quite classic and cool compared to the rich, generous and hedonistic 2015s.

Stylewise some of the wines stand out with extra a intensity and concentraion due to the frost and following low yield.

Mathilde mentioned that they lost 50% in Echezeaux, Les Suchots and Aux Brûlees and 30% in Clos de Vougeot. Furthermore there is no Chambolle-Musigny Combe d’Orveaux – and 30% or more were lost in the Nuits-Saint-Georges vineyards south of the village.


Mathilde Grivot – October 2017

Some of these frost affected wines do stand out somewhat, as the character of the wines are influenced by the very low yields. In some cases it’s just enhancing the wine – in others the very low yields does influence the balance of the wine significantly.

So stylewise some variation – quality wise a bit of variation but overall a fine quality here. The big question – can the 2016s match the 2015s?

In my view the answer is not unambiguous as a few of the 2016s stand out due to the different character of the vintage. Firstly I think the 2016 vintage is a better match for the Nuits-Saint-Georges wines from south of the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges – as the 2015s here were slightly on the warm side. Secondly the Clos de Vougeot does benefit from low yields and a fresher acidity in the 2016s vintage – see the individual tasting notes.

Lastly one could argue that the 2016 vintage is a more classic Burgundy vintage – and some might prefer this to the rich and lavish 2015s. I can understand and appreciate this preference -if you like – but I must say that the 2015s in many cases have more energy and freshness than I originally hoped for. So without denying the greatness of the 2015 vintage – I would like to have both the 2016 and the 2015 – I’m sure these vintages will be lovely to follow over the next decades.

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