Tasting Notes
Vinous 90+
(13.3% natural alcohol) Good deep red. Smoky, ripe nose shows an almost liqueur-like quality. Fat, sweet and creamy, with superripe black cherry, raspberry and smoke flavors complicated by musky smoke and earth. Today this very rich wine comes off as chunkier than the village offering, with a bit less cut and lift. Finishes with chewy tannins and very good length.
Robert Parker 89-90+?
From 60-year-old vines high up above Echezeaux, the Cathiard 2005 Vosne-Romanee En Orveaux is the most austere wine on this occasion, with a chalky mineral character and bright but slightly tart red fruit marked by candied and caramelized inflections and a considerable evidence of new wood. Smoked meat character emerges beneath the alternating bright and caramelized black fruits in the finish. Not that this wine is entirely unimpressive – far from it – but could it just be having a bad day, I wonder? Also recommended: 2005 Bourgogne ($39.00;85). A Becky Wassserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet, Beaune; fax 011-33-3-80-24-29-70
