The 2011 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru is a first for Alex Gambal, aged in a single new demi-muid. Like many Batards from barrel, it seems broody and introspective on the nose with light melted candle wax and lightly honeyed aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well-balanced with a crisp entry of lemon curd and orange peel. It needs just a little more weight on the mid-palate, though the finish shows fine clarity if not the persistency of a top Batard. Still, the fruit seems nicely in sync with the oak and I suspect it will have more to given in five or six years. Drink 2015-2025. 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.