Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Reviews

The 2009 Clos de Vougeot is impeccable from start to finish. Layers of succulent red fruit emerge from this structured yet balanced, harmonious wine. A final burst of red fruit informs the energetic, polished finish. The Clos de Vougeot is made from two parcels, the first at the top of the hill measures 1.2 hectares, the second to the bottom 0.3 hectares, aged separately and blended one month prior to bottling. The wine was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged in 70% new oak with no rackings during elevage. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. Biodynamic farming and non-interventionalist winemaking are at the heart of the approach at Domaine de la Vougeraie. The 2009s saw roughly a 25 days of maceration (including a week of cold soak) with one punch down a day. Once in barrel racking was kept to a bare minimum. A number of wines were bottled in late 2010 and early 2011. I tasted these wines with winemaker Pierre Vincent in March 2011.

Tasted out of the barrel at the Domaine. A blend from their two parcels at the bottom and top of the Grand Cru, this has a lifted bouquet of cassis, blueberry and dark cherries, prominent new oak but here in synch with the fruit and it should meld nicely over time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins on the entry, a pleasing sense of symmetry here with fine definition and freshness on the crisp, redcurrant and Morello finish. This is a very fine Clos Vougeot. Tasted November 2010

(from an exceptionally well-positioned 1 ha parcel situated directly beneath Les Petits Musigny that is combined with another less well located .35 ha parcel close to the main road) 40% whole clusters. This is quite densely fruited with floral and freshly turned earth aromas adding interest to the wild and medium-toned red berry fruit. The delicious, intense and serious broad-shouldered flavors possess excellent mid-palate and concentration with ample amounts of dry extract that partially buffers the chewy and ripe tannins on the long and less austere than usual finish, 2023+