Échezeaux Grand Cru

Domaine Jean Grivot is the largest landowner in the Les Cruots lieu-dit of Échezeaux, with a 0.85-hectare parcel at the southern end of the Grand Cru abutting the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots - so geographically and stylistically closer in character to Vosne than to the Grands Échezeaux side. Brown limestone soils with active clay, scree on oolitic bedrock at the Vosne edge. House protocol, around eighteen months in oak with 60-70% new wood (Étienne era). 2008 was a cold, wet, mildew-pressured vintage rescued by a north wind and late September sunshine - hallmarks are dark-fruit purity, fresh acidity, and serious rather than showy character. Côte de Nuits fared better than the Beaune side; many top wines were underrated young.