Roland Lavantureux 2020 Bourgogne Epineuil "Les Fauconniers" 750ml

The second vintage of this new project. 75% is matured in barrel, 25% in tank. Glowing vibrant purple. At first I thought there was something a little bit sunburned on the nose unlike the 2019, and despite employing a large team to remove grilled grapes, but after a while in the glass the bouquet just kept getting better and better as the fruit developed. There is a slight trace of the gravelly graphite quality typical of many reds in the Yonne département, but a seductive sweetness of high quality pinot as well and very long. The 2019 was a slam dunk from the first sniff, but I think the 2020 is closing in on the same exceptional quality.

Score: 89-91 points -- Jasper Morris