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95+ JG. "Like so many of the very top wines from this vintage, the 1998 Corton “Renardes” from Domaine Michel Gaunoux takes a little coaxing, once it is opened, to start to blossom, but once it has had a bit of air, the stunning potential of this wine is readily apparent. The deep and youthful nose offers up a seamless and very pure aromatic constellation of cherries, quince, mustard seed, blood orange, gamebird, a touch of raw cocoa and a simply stunning base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and marvelously complex, with great focus and balance, a rock solid core, suave tannins and stunning length and grip on the perfectly balanced and very soil-driven finish. Like so many adolescent Gaunoux wines, there is a touch of dried fruit elements in the aromatic profile of the wine when it is first opened, but this vanishes fairly briskly and is replaced by truly vibrant and pure fruit elements, along with the full cornucopia of aromatic complexity that makes Corton such a magical wine for those who have the patience to wait for these beauties to fully blossom. A great, great wine in the making." John Gilman, View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2014, Issue #52 |