Richebourg 2005 Meo Camuzet

Meo’s 2005 Richebourg leads with lovely, invigorating fresh black raspberry and cassis character, with saline and iodine notes. Palate-saturating and bright, this is surprisingly dominated by the very primary, juicy fresh fruit end of the spectrum and saline minerality, leading to a long, mouth-watering, if not particularly layered finish. The sense of extract and fine tannins are obvious. The wine just needs time – and even a few weeks to recover from the racking and assembling would probably have made a significant contribution to its showing today.

Together with its counterpart from Madame Leroy, this is probably the greatest wine from this cru. Méo inherited the vineyard parcel from the legendary Jayer and his Richebourg is in a class of its own because its characteristics are so immense. It has a bright and dense red color and the bouquet is an explosion of iodine sensations and those of ripe red fruit, blackberry and raspberry. The spice component is surprising, black pepper, tobacco and bark. The mouthfeel is where the wine comes into its own bringing together boldness and balance, a Nebbiolo-like tannic texture and extraordinary freshness. This is perhaps the greatest Méo Camuze I have ever tasted. Outstanding.