2017 Cellier des Dames Mercurey Premier Cru 'Elisabeth de Valois'

100% Pinot Noir from La Bondue in the western part of Mercurey on a south-eastern-facing slope. The vines were thirty five years old, cultivated on soil composed of limestone and iron-rich red clay. The wine was fermented in open-top vat with 20% whole cluster, inclusion and raised in 50% new 228-litre la pièce bourguignonne. Four barrels of this cuvée were produced in the 2017 vintage.  Nicely developed with a few years of bottle age on it, this is showing expressive aromas of bramble, red cherry, strawberry and violet. Given a little air, it starts showing complexities of smoke, liqourice and forest floor.Dry and medium bodied, with fresh acidity and finely-grained tannins resolving themselves nicely.  Flavors of tart raspberry, cranberry, smoke and stony minerality accompy the rather long floral finish.