Olivier Bernstein, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011

Soft, silky tannins set the backdrop for the 2011 Mazis-Chambertin. Sweet floral notes meld into red berries and cinnamon. Dried rose petal and violet nuances inform the layered, intensely perfumed finish. The flavors are pure, striking and lifted. In other words: classic Mazis. This is another wine that has developed beautifully over the last year.

Bright, deep ruby-red. Very reduced nose clears somewhat with air to reveal dark aromas of black fruits, licorice and violet. At once vibrant and sweet in the mouth, with a lightly gamey character, but much less expressive today than the Bonnes-Mares. Most impressive today on the very long if youthfully aggressive finish, which features complex, building tannins and a distinctive smoky minerality. This may well need a decade in bottle to absorb its (oak-driven) tannins.