Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts 2005

I recall tasting the 2005 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Malconsorts from barrel with Sylvain back in 2007 and thinking something along the lines of Wow. And despite being first in the line-up of many older vintages, this still ranks as one of Sylvain's finest creations. It has a pure and precocious mint-tinged nose that is almost crystalline in its purity, deftly handling the new oak and retaining its youthful zeal. There is a sense of symmetry and precision on the palate—not a hair out of place. The fruit is slightly darker than its 02 counterpart tasted alongside. The finish offers a gentle crescendo that risks leaving the imbiber stupefied. Give it a few more years, but this is one case where I empathize with infanticide. Drink 2017-2030. Tasted June 2014.