Aromas of sweet berries, potpourri, warm spices and orange rind introduce Drouhin's 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves, a medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated Pinot Noir that's taut and chalky, deriving from the thin soils and steep slopes of lieu-dit Sur le Grèves.

Aromas of cassis, plums, orange rind and sweet spices introduce Drouhin's 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves, a medium to full-bodied, bright and lively wine that's perfumed and precise, framed by powdery tannins and lively acids. It's more elegant and refined than its 2018 counterpart.

Aromas of cassis, plums, sweet soil tones and espresso roast, framed by a deft touch of new oak, introduce the 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves, a medium to full-bodied wine with a sweet core of fruit that's structured around fine but youthfully chewy tannins. This, too, will reward a bit of bottle age.

The 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves offers up a sweet bouquet of cassis, cherries, forest floor and spices. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, with a deep core of succulent fruit that displays excellent concentration, largely concealing its fine structuring tannins before concluding with a chalky finish.

The 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves comes from vines located just 50 meters from Les Cras and includes around 25% whole bunch fruit. The nose was showing just a touch of reduction, but underneath lies attractive, quite punchy cranberry and cassis fruit. The palate is well balanced with earthy, red berry fruit and is lent a little rusticity by the whole bunch addition but still balanced with a pleasant bitter cherry finish. This is a fine Beaune Grèves that should end up at the top end of my banded score.