2004 Cedric Bouchard, Roses de Jeanne Haute Lemble 1x750ml

Vinous 97

In 2002 Bouchard planted this tiny plot in Celles that measures just 0.118 hectares with five different rootstocks of Chardonnay. In vintage 2004, his first harvest from this parcel, Bouchard had to work diligently to keep yields low in this young vineyard and consequently he made just 700 bottles of the Haute-Lemblee that year. As the vineyard finds its balance, production will increase, but only to a maximum of 1,000-1,200 bottles. The 2004 Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Blancs La Haute-Lemblee is absolutely breathtaking today. A bombastic, explosive bouquet leads to endless layers of rich, sumptuous fruit. In the last two years the 2004 Haute-Lemblee has acquired a baritone register of nuance that is drop-dead gorgeous. The finish is creamy and fleshy, with a crystalline, diamond-like brilliance that is hard to fully describe. Ideally the wine is best cellared for another few years, but I doubt most readers will have the patience to wait, I certainly haven’t. Incredibly, the 2004 La Haute-Lemblee was made from vines that were just three years old at the time. This is another wine that is gorgeous today, but that also holds incredible promise for the coming years. [Antonio Galloni, 05/01/2010]

Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022