Picked a couple of days before the start of the harvest, on 22nd August. This has had some sulphur. A slightly paler colour than Le Clos, with an agreeable mix of spring flowers and medium density white fruit. Tense and tangy yet with a very good density of white fruit through the middle, and a somewhat saline finish. Still building! Tasted Mar 2022.

Made in 600 litre barrels. Bottled two weeks ago, unfiltered and without sulphur. There will be a normal version too (not tasted). Fullish lemon yellow, not quite fallen clear but his experience suggests that it will clarify in bottle. A complex nose, with yellow fruit and some ripe citrus, understandably rounder than the Aligoté. This 2020 Le Clos really kicks on, with some fresh white pear and good acidity. Tingling minerals and very persistent. Tasted Mar 2022.

Made from 60 year old vines in Marsannay and Morey, vinified entirely in tank and bottled two weeks ago. Lively lemon yellow with a racy nose, fresh apples. Quite lean but with plenty of energy. Has maybe been tightened up by the recent bottling. Good length in fact. Apple and citrus notes. Tasted Mar 2022.

The Bouvier block is in the sector known as Pau next to Laurent Fournier. Fine even purple, with a lush note to the nose, floral as well. Somewhere between optimum and maximum ripeness, but encouragingly nearer the former. I love the backbone to this and the freshness. Tasted Mar 2022.

Made with the usual two thirds whole bunch. Like Les Longeroies the nose has just a little oxidation, as also the colour. Plump dark fruit with an incisive edge from the acid balance. Full bodied but not quite as compelling as Longeroies. Tasted Mar 2022.

70 year old vines plus. This is not amongst the deepest colours of the range but the bouquet declares an intensity of fruit ahead of the other wines to date. Impressive purity, a fine fresh finish, the fruit displays several levels, not as thick textured as the nose led me to expect, but with an impressive backbone. The oak adds a little too, without being over dominant. Tasted Mar 2022.

Just racked. From Mazoyères, upper part, old vines. A deep crimson purple colour, the nose is a little out of place after the racking, then there is a huge wealth of fruit behind. Dark plum and rich strawberry notes, a full sensuality, the pepper of the whole bunches. Not together because of the stage it is at, but full of promise. Tasted Mar 2022.

Two barrels made. Medium deep crimson. The bouquet offers some depth of a darker spicy fruit with summer flowers too. Darker fruit again on the palate, with some of the savoury character, the umami note, definitely saline and with good length. Tasted Mar 2022.

From the top part of the vineyard. The Bouvier team are contracted to work the vineyard, and they then buy the grapes. Just racked. Rich mid purple. A smoky nose with a significant weight behind. Then the fresher side as the sweet red cherries start to come out. This is really rather astonishing on the palate and just gets fresher and deeper, with an overlay of white pepper, and beautifully juicy. An astonishing quality to the finish. Tasted Mar 2022.

The second year of Bernard’s brothers’ vines. Very little topsoil but a cool site, so pick late. There is a freshness to the fruit profile which pleases, yet still builds to a generosity on the palate. Deep fresh cherry with a little smoky touch, complex and interesting. Good salivation at the back! Tasted Mar 2022.

En Créot is the main source but this is a multiple terroir, old vine cuvée. A dark brooding garnet crimson colour. The bouquet goes to another level and it is obvious that alongside the floral top notes there is a wealth of fruit to follow. Obviously whole bunch in style, but gives terrific pleasure. Sensual and spicy but above all with dark fruit intensity. If you like Jamet or Jasmin Côte Rôtie you will like this. Small millerand grapes. Tasted Mar 2022.

Medium deep purple. A certain succulence to the nose, ripe but with depth of flavour. Bounce and exuberance, more than elegance, with spicy notes and a more saline finish. Keeps coming back for more! Tasted Mar 2022.

Bernard notes that you have to pick early here, on the stony soil of La Justice. Not the deepest or brightest of the colours but the bouquet is pretty, though displaying fully ripe flavours. Ripe dark raspberry with the usual firmer, and valuable, backbone. Kicks on very well. Tasted Mar 2022.

This does not come from the same plot as the sulphur free wine, though with the same downwash soil, so there are plenty of stones. Lighter in colour, with a more reductive nose. There is massive intensity on the palate, dark raspberry and a touch of blackcurrant, more intensity in the mouth and a fine long finish with some spice. Tasted Mar 2022.

All whole bunch, but from a different plot to the Vieilles Vignes bottling of Longeroies. It has a vibrant, deep purple. Colour. The bouquet shows a little bit of a light pruny oxidation but this is superficial. Perhaps a touch of kirsch to the nose. Deep dense and vibrant, rich peonies and dark raspberry fruit. Good fresh fruit and racy acidity. I am not worried about the nose and I love the finish. Tasted Mar 2022.

At the foot of the slope with a touch more clay. A full purple with a strong effect of whole bunches, though nicely integrated with the dark berry fruit. The structure is typically fresh with good acidity but there is a balanced juiciness throughout with some red berry notes alongside the darker fruit. Good length. Tasted Mar 2022.

Medium deep purple, not quite clear. The bouquet is on the softer side, not quite showing precision thanks to a slightly reductive note. Racy fresher raspberries on the palate, slightly thicker tannins, not together today but if this comes into place it will deserve more. The limestone scree gives an elegant touch here, notes Bernard, and we may see that once the wine settles down. Tasted Mar 2022.

Le Finage is the name Bernard gives to his cuvée ronde covering various locations across the appellation. Mid purple, the nose has a little more precision than Montre-Cul, with what could be a pyrazine note, but is the whole bunches showing much more in this wine. Good intensity, excellent fresh finish from the acidity, perhaps a little sourness from the stems, which should soon play out, otherwise dark raspberry fruit, and certainly length. A little tangerine touch to finish. Tasted Mar 2022.

Plump purple, the wine has not quite fallen clear yet. The bouquet offers rich ripe cherry and plum notes. Bouvier’s 2020 Montre Cul is very juicy, just stopping at the right side of the line, quite thick textured yet with length. Tasted Mar 2022.

Medium deep ruby. A slight reductive quality to the nose, but attractive even so. Fresh and racy, very much dark fruit, as ripe as one would wish, yet the fresh acidity and the whole bunches save the day. Slightly smudged fruit compared to 2020. Tasted Mar 2022.