The 2011 Ladoix 1er Cru Bois Roussot has a lilting, fragrant bouquet – bashful at first – but revealing attractive wilted rose petal scents with aeration. The palate is immediately smooth in texture and perhaps is a tad high-toned for my own preference, revealing too much sucrose on the finish. Still, this generous Ladoix premier cru should drink well over the next 6 to 8 years. Drink now-2020. Edmond Cornu handed the reins of his domaine to his son Pierre some years ago, although Edmond remains in an advisory role and Pierre’s cousin has also joined. They farm around 15 hectares of vineyard, and their fruit is destemmed before being fermented in stainless steel and raised in oak for 14 to 18 months. Having tasted their wines often in the UK, I knew what to expect. While they rarely reach the heights of growers with more propitious holdings, these are well-crafted, unassuming, balanced and terroir-specific wines imbued with plenty of character. Generally, they are best consumed in their youth in order to savor their freshness and vitality. Importer: A Neal Rosenthal Selection; www.madrose.com; tel. (518) 207-9100. Also available through McKinley Vintners (UK)