Domaine Muzard, Santenay Premier Cru (Burgundy, France) 2013

This wine was made from the extremely troublesome Burgundy vintage of 2013, but the wine is so easy to enjoy that you’d never guess that it was sourced from a year that was widely disappointing for vintners.  The red fruit notes are open and very expressive in aroma and flavor, with notable depth and substance but still a lithe overall profile.  The delicate tannins are nicely tuned to the freshness of the fruit, and what little oak is discernible is quite subtle — again in balance with the wine’s restrained weight.  A side-note of interest is that the Premier Cru Maladière vineyard draws it name from its especially sunny exposure, which (centuries ago) made it the perfect place for treating the malady of leprosy.  If you find that historical detail more off-putting than interesting, try the wine anyway, as its admirable purity will provide an antidote for any unpleasant association.