Domaine FOLLIN-ARBELET-- 2013s from Cask and a 2012 from Bottle

Domaine FOLLIN-ARBELET (Aloxe-Corton)

2013s  from Cask

Franck Follin-Arbelet said that 2013, at 25 hl/ha, was the smallest vintage he had ever made (the domaine dates to 1993). Triage took place in the vineyards here. The grapes are entirely destemmed for 2013. Malolactic fermentations were all finished by the time I visited on November 12; some vintages have not all finished when I visited at approximately the same time.

These were some of the more memorable wines of the vintage for me for their freshness and precision, recalling 1993 in style (high praise from me).

2013 Pernand-Vergelesses rouge

This wine shows excellent acidity and class with crisp, crunchy raspberry and dark fruit of great clarity. (87-90)

2013Aloxe-Corton rouge

The village Aloxe features dark fruits, especially crushed blueberries, that are crunchy, precise, and crystalline. (89-93)

2013 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru – Clos du Chapître rouge

The Clos du Chapître, from a vineyard behind the domaine, shows great promise even though it is still unformed. The wine is dense, powerful, and dark with great material and freshness. (91-94)

2013 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru – Les Vercots rouge

Franck said that the Vercots was one of the vineyards that received the worst hail. The wine is intense and deep with licorice to go with the dark fruits. It is still primary but also promising. It is more tannic than the preceding wines. (91-94)

2013 Corton rouge

This is from a vineyard planted in 1978 in red vines even though it is on white wine soils – Follin-Arbelet has owned half and Domaine Senard the other half. Recently, Senard sold its parcel, half to Follin-Arbelet (and Franck has replanted half of it, again with red vines), and the other half to Coche-Dury, who has replanted his half with white vines. The wine is dark, dense, chalky, and pure – atypical for Corton because of its white wine soils, but interesting for its unusual take on Corton and satisfying. (91-95)

2013 Corton-Bressandes

Franck said that the hail here was a little less than for the Aloxe. The nose is still quite reduced. The mouth has Bressandes richness, penetration, depth, and dark fruit, but this is another wine that is still quite unformed for the moment, even though greatly promising. The vines here date to 1955-60. (92-96)

2013 Romanée-Saint-Vivant

The Romanée-Saint-Vivant shows dark fruit with some licorice. It is dense with sensuality and a fair amount of tannin. The wine is very concentrated, yet also has lightness on the tongue, making it almost ethereal. (94-97)

2013 Corton-Charlemagne

The Corton-Charlemagne is plump, round dense, and very concentrated with excellent length. Even though relatively closed, there is much promise here. (91-94)

A 2012  from Bottle

2012 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru – Clos du Chapître

This wine is pure, crunchy, fresh, light, long, and silky – one could almost guess it a 2013 for the freshness. 93/A