Domaine des Lambrays, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2017

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru unfurls in the glass with complex aromas of plums, cassis, dark chocolate, warm spices, licorice and rich soil tones, delicately framed by new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a fleshy core of fruit, succulent acids and powdery tannins. My intuition is that this will turn out to be both a little more concentrated and a little more structurally giving than the 2016 rendition.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru is very promising, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis, mulberries, peony, clove and cinnamon, with hints of the savory nuance to come with further élevage. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with nice volume and concentration, framed by supple, elegantly refined tannins and juicy acids. Boris Champy notes that at pH 3.57 this is the highest pH Clos des Lambrays since 2006, and that in combination with the wine's structural finesse should make for a comparatively approachable rendition of this grand cru. I'm looking forward to revisiting it at the end of the year.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru opens in the glass with expressive aromas of sweet berry fruit, plums and orange rind that mingle with nuances of forest floor, smoked meats, cedar and spices. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and open-knit, with succulent acids and moderate concentration, concluding with a nicely defined finish. I expect this to flesh out a little as it bounces back from bottling.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru has a very detailed bouquet of gorgeous red currant, cranberry and mineral aromas, plus a touch of tobacco in the background; quite leafy in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine backbone, quite firm and slightly powdery in texture. Focused with good grip on the sappy, overtly peppery finish. This is an excellent Grand Cru. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru is tight and understated on the nose with touches of black fruit, scorched earth and decaying autumn leaves, certainly aromatics that adhere to former winemaker Thierry Brouin's style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, gentle grip and, whilst not as complex as the 2018, it has commendable focus towards the lightly spiced finish. A rather easygoing, open-knit Clos des Lambrays, it should drink well for 15-20 years. This was Thierry Brouin’s valedictory vintage.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays: vinified and blended by Thierry Brouin, raised and racked by Boris Champy and bottled by current winemaker Jacques Desvauges. Got it? Good. There is just a touch of reduction on the nose, which is perhaps a little smudged and a bit static compared to the nascent 2018. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and dark berry fruit laced with clove, bay leaf and sage. The linear finish lacks some depth and grip. Not bad, though not the best in recent years.

vinous94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2017 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru was picked September 3–11 and includes 90% whole bunches in this vintage, matured in 50% new oak. Two tanks were chaptalized and the alcohol is around 13.5°. This has a classic Clos des Lambrays bouquet, quite understated at first, precise but tightly coiled. There is fine purity here. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit laced with tobacco and graphite and a fine line of acidity. Not the most persistent Clos des Lambrays that has ever been made, but perhaps one of the most elegant and poised.