Aromas of buttery orchard fruit, citrus zest and stone fruit mingle with hints of white flowers and freshly baked bread to introduce the 2020 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru (Maison Louis Jadot), a full-bodied, ample and layered wine that's taut and structured, with racy acids and fine depth at the core. This, too, shows plenty of promise.
A cuvée derived from three different sources—one in grapes, two in must—all located on the Puligny side of this large grand cru, the 2018 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru (Maison Louis Jadot) opens in the glass with aromas of orange oil, honeycomb, buttered orchard fruit and freshly baked bread. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and muscular, rich and multidimensional, with lively underpinning acidity despite its rounded, fleshy profile.
The 2016 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a slightly richer and more generous, lightly honeyed bouquet compared to the Bienvenues, though I admire its purity and with aeration, more terroir expression becomes apparent. The palate is slightly viscous on the entry. There is a fine bead of acidity, slightly less saline than the Bienvenues but there is greater depth and puissance on the finish. Give this three or four years in bottle before broaching.
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is much more reserved on the nose than the 2015 Bienvenues - austere, stony and stoic, gaining intensity after 5-10 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp line of acidity, a slight bitterness on the back palate but it fans out nicely to a spicy finish, even if it does not quite have the panache of the Bienvenues at the moment.
The 2015 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is much more reserved on the nose than the 2015 Bienvenues - austere, stony and stoic, gaining intensity after 5-10 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp line of acidity, a slight bitterness on the back palate but it fans out nicely to a spicy finish, even if it does not quite have the panache of the Bienvenues at the moment.
The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a richer, more tropical-scented bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The palate is smooth and rounded, rich and mellifluous in the mouth with a long, seductive finish that needs just a little more tension and poise. To be honest, this is out-classed by the Bienvenue.
