La Forêt is a specific climat that sits within the Montmains 1er Cru but makes quite a distinctive wine. Bessin-Tremblay’s holdings here are a continuation of the vines that produce its Montmains cuvée and were planted at the same time. La Forêt was first made in 2016 after Jean-Claude Bessin accepted that the two vineyards, no matter how close together, produced such different wines. In simple terms, this parcel sits a little higher on the slope, and the complex exogyra virgula soils give a straighter, spicier, chalkier expression than Montmains. The maturation is split between temperature-controlled tank and barrel. This is simply stunning. It offers great intensity and marvellous finesse. A brilliant example of the vineyard.