Vougeot “Le Clos du Prieuré” Blanc Monopole Reviews

Enlivened by bracing acidity, this white delivers lemon-lime, hazelnut, mineral and buttered pastry flavors. Shows tension, yet the balance seems to tip to the tart side. Best from 2024 through 2028. 

North of Clos de Vougeot, close to the village and the Vouge, the stream that gives the village its name, this two acres of chardonnay on pebbly limestone produced a juicy 2015 with flavors of fresh-cut pear. It expands from lean to opulent, finding a sweet and salty balance. Not as long-lived as Le Clos Blanc, this should be ready to drink after a year or two in the cellar.

Effusive aromas of smoke, mineral and spice are complemented by lemon and green apple flavors. A racy profile fits this tensile white like a glove. Excellent length. Best from 2019 through 2028.

Like liquid candy, this combines lemon cake, apple, floral and spice flavors seamlessly, with fine underlying structure. Harmonious and long, echoing with spice on the finish. —B.S.

This powerful white moves into red wine territory with touches of pale strawberry in its layered flavors. What’s more prominent is the ample leesiness, highlighted by scents of flower petals and lime zest. Along with that lime acidity, there’s enough salinity to cut through the richness of the flavor and keep the finish lively. Built to cellar for five years or more.

There's a salty, savory edge to this elegant white. Needs air to reveal the vanilla, peach, lemon and butterscotch aromas and flavors. Racy on the finish. Best from 2016 through 2022. –BS

A fresher though slightly exotic nose consists of notes of dried yellow fruit, lemongrass, and a hint of lychee nut. There is better freshness on the palate and the middle weight flavors possess good detail and a hint of minerality on the acceptably complex though attractively persistent finale. 

A hint of pain grillé is discernible on the more refined nose that displays essence of pear, citrus and white floral aromas. The refinement exhibited by the nose continues onto the textured and attractively intense medium-bodied flavors that possess a discreet minerality on the balanced, delicious and lingering finish. This is really quite good and worth a look. (89-91)/2016+

There is just enough wood to notice on the ever-so-slightly reduced nose so I would suggest giving this 15 to 20 minutes of air if you’re going to try a bottle in its youth. There is an undercurrent of minerality that adds lift to the delicious, round and supple medium weight flavors that possess good punch and detail on the crisp, dry and clean citrus-infused finish that again offers good persistence if only moderate depth. 88/2016+

This two-acre walled vineyard once belonged to the Benedictine priory of the abbey of St-Germain-des-Pres in Paris. The chardonnay vines face east, were they border the Vouge stream, growing in calccareous soil with a lot of pebbles. The wine itself is all about minerals, its powerful density following a gracious, simple line. Deep and satisfyingly rich, its gravitas is lightened by scents of spice and flowers.

Here too there is just enough wood to notice on the agreeably layered nose that features notes of apple, pear and a touch of exotic fruit. There is an undercurrent of minerality that adds lift to the delicious, round and supple medium weight flavors that possess good punch and detail on the dry and clean finish that again offers good persistence if only moderate depth.

More generous and straightforwardly brisk than Le Clos Blanc, this wine has fresh melon flavors and a broad, smoky finish. Its deep, golden savor will develop into complexity over the next several years.

Toast, pastry and peach flavors predominate, with hints of lemon and mineral. This is vibrant and lightweight, showing intensity and persistence. Leesy aftertaste. Drink now through 2015. 407 cases made. –BS

A mildly exotic nose speaks of mostly dried yellow fruit that is trimmed in citrus zest and melon notes. The forward, round and quite supple flavors are already delicious and approachable with reasonably good depth and length. This easy-to-like effort is already drinking well.

The 2010 Vougeot Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot emerges from a monopole site. The Clos Blanc is marked by its brilliant aromatic lift and energy. The aromas and flavors flesh out nicely to the deep, creamy finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. This is stunning set of wines from Pierre Vincent and Domaine de la Vougeraie. It is impossible to miss the attention to detail at this impeccably run domaine. No expense is spared. It takes 80 people to work the vineyards during harvest and another 20 in the cellar to take it from there. Production in 2010 was of course down significantly as it was everywhere else. Yields came in at 24 hectoliters per hectare for the Pinot and 29 for the Chardonnay. Vincent used between 30-80% whole bunches, depending on the wine. Readers who want to learn more might want to check out my video interview with Pierre Vincent on www.erobertparker.com. I will report on the domaine’s 2009s in the April issue. For now let me just say the 2009 Musigny is one of the wines of the vintage.

Moderate reduction knocks down the nose though there is good energy to the delicious citrus-infused flavors that are delicious and quite dry on the acceptably long finish. To enjoy young. (86-89)/2012+

Moderate reduction knocks down the nose though there is good energy to the delicious citrus-infused flavors that are delicious and quite dry on the acceptably long finish. To enjoy young. (86-89)/2012+