The 2017 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots offers up aromas of cassis, wild berries, plums and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate with juicy acids and chewy structuring tannins. It's only moderately concentrated and the finish is somewhat brief, but this should develop nicely with a few years' bottle age.

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots was actually quite difficult to read after the barnstorming performance of the Beaux Monts. This is much more laid back with ample red fruit tinged with loam and mint, but I would have liked to see more energy here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin that disguises quite a firm backbone underneath. It seems to attenuate in the final one-third, whereas the Beaux Monts fans out. Fine, but Etienne himself commented that he has made better Suchots in the past. Just two barrels instead of the usual four.

The 2014 Vosne Romanée 1er Cru les Suchots displayed just a very small reduction on the nose, but still, one can discern the deeply layered black cherry, crème de cassis and boysenberry notes that are very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannin. There is a keen line of acidity, just a touch of spice entering towards the finish that is beautifully delineated and sustained in the mouth. There is a sense of completeness and harmony to this les Suchots, and it should age over 20 years without too much difficulty.

The 2013 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots atypically has one of the more reticent aromatics from Etienne Grivot, sultry and brooding at the moment. With aeration there is a lovely pastille scent emerging as some kind of recompense. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins and a silver thread of acidity. This is very elegant for a Suchots, more reserved than its peers, but at the same time very focused and pure with just the right amount of reserve to beg another sip on the finish. Excellent.