The 2013 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves was depleted due to poor flowering and hail, which resulted in only around five barrels this year. It has a light red currant and cranberry leaf nose that is just missing a sense of intent and focus, perhaps discombobulated by the difficult growing season. The palate is medium-bodied and shows more promise than the aromatics at this point: candied black cherry and strawberry fruit, orange sorbet surfacing toward the finish. Not a bad Beaune Grèves by any means, although I suspect that the 2014 will be better.

The 2012 Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves has a lifted, floral bouquet with cheeky scents of iodine and cassis, all with fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins that belie the fine structure underneath. The finish is persistent in the mouth with red currant and cranberry toward the finish. Very fine. Drink 2015-2022. It was great to see Alex Gambal again in Burgundy. This was another producer that I regularly review that slipped through the net last November. These five notes make a start and I include them in this article since they orbit Savigny. But I will endeavor to taste the remaining 2012s, especially because their reds were so impressive and as is often the case with Alex-s wines, great value. There are several importers in the United States.

Bottled at the end of March, the 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves has a fine bouquet of red currant, raspberry and even a faint touch of pine needles on the well-defined nose that expresses the terroir well. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp black rather than red fruit. The tannins are just a little tough at the moment, but there is sufficient fruit to keep it balanced and vibrant. This is a charming Les Greves that deserves just a couple of years in bottle. Drink 2014-2020+ I met Alex Gambal a few years ago in London. It cannot have been long since the American had set up his operation located on the Beaune ringroad. Several importers in the United States.

A brooding and quite somber nose speaks of earthy and floral dark berry fruit aromas dissolve gracefully into rich, intense and focused medium-bodied flavours that possess fine complexity on the firm and somewhat linear finish. This will need a few years to flesh out and harmonize but the underlying material is clearly present.?