2018 Hospices de Beaune Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Dames Hospitalières

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | JUNE 21, 2021

The 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Dames Hospitalières is a Hospices de Beaune bottling raised by Mounir Saouma of Lucien Le Moine for American importer Vintus. It is a blend of three 1er Crus with diverse microclimates – Bressandes, Mignotte and Teurons – given the standard Lucien Le Moine élevage of 24 months in barrel on the lees with no racking (long by present-day standards in Burgundy) and bottled with no fining or filtration.

A wine of remarkable purity, the 2018 dazzles with energy and nuance. The aromatics alone are immediately enticing, but the 2018 really shines on the palate, where its crisp, beautifully delineated red/purplish fruit flavors come alive. Naturally the 2018 is very, very young, but it clearly has the pedigree and nuance to develop beautifully for many years to come. It is no crime to open a bottle now, as the 2018 is supremely delicious and ready to provide immense pleasure. It’s the sort of wine that is opened and then finished in very short order. 94/Drink 2022-2043.