From a recently acquired parcel, Bize’s 2005 Aloxe-Corton Le Suchot is particularly smoky in the nose, offers concentrated, tart sour cherry and rhubarb fruit along with persistent smokiness on the palate, and is possessed of rather obvious tannic structure and grainy texture. Admirably intense and highly distinctive, this nonetheless hardly constitutes the most youthfully user-friendly of Pinots. Malolactic fermentations took place without delay and Patrick Bize had bottled many of the wines already in November. A significant portion of whole clusters were included in most of the fermentations. Wines from this address seldom make concessions to early drinkability or cheap thrills, and the inherently concentrated, darkly toned 2005s are certainly no exception. A Becky Wassserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet, Beaune; fax 011-33-3-80-24-29-70.