Domaine de la Vougeraie Reviews

Deep sanguine in hue, this wine opens with ripe strawberry, baked rhubarb, pomegranate and quince with a pretty overlay of rose petals. Freshly picked mushrooms and thyme stems with a fine vein of vanilla appear with aeration. A stone layer first coats the palate, followed by perfectly ripe strawberries, which linger along the midpalate and grow juicier from its acidic lift. Fine tannins persist in its long finish and gives way to a soft peppercorn-clove finish that frames the fruit beautifully. — Anna-Christina Cabrales

Smooth and charming, showing coffee, toffee, spice and citrus flavors, this white reveals a complex and delicate, almost creamy, texture, while the bright structure keeps this defined and long on the finish. Drink now through 2027.

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. 

Toasty and leesy, with generous minerality underlying apple, lime and citronella aromas and flavors. Sleek and well-defined, with a virbrant aftertaste of citrus, orchard fruit, stone and spices. - Bruce Sanderson

Aromatic and supple, it's easy to get swept away by the floral, sandalwood, incense, strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors of this red. Charming and lively, with the balance and expression to enjoy now. Features fine length. Best from 2025 through 2042. - Bruce Sanderson

Supple, delivering cherry, strawberry and rose aromas and flavors allied to a lush texture and lively structure. This is all about finesse, with a long aftertaste driven by harmony and freshness. Best from 2025 through 2042.  - Bruce Sanderson

An elegant, subdued red, offering black cherry, black currant, violet and sweet spices. Gaining depth from smoke and mineral hints, this is balanced and fades gracefully on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2032. - Bruce Sanderson

A rich style, featuring luscious black cherry, blackberry and violet flavors. Soft and enticing, with fine balance and dark fruit echoing on the finish, along with sweet spices. Drink now through 2035. - Bruce Sanderson

A focused, even racy red, whose blackberry, black cherry, earth and spice notes are fused to the linear frame. Shows fine concentration, balance and length, yet needs some time to unwind. Best from 2026 through 2043. - Bruce Sanderson

Sweet sawdust and vanilla notes mingle with black cherry and blackberry flavors in this silky, polished red, whose tannins are soft and balanced with fine acidity, ending with a lingering finish of tomato leaf and oak spice. Best from 2025 through 2042. - Bruce Sanderson

Rich and juicy, offering cherry, raspberry and spice flavors that coat the palate, while earth and tobacco accents add detail. Features a line of fine tannins underneath but, for now, this is all about fleshy fruit. Shows fine harmony, polish and length. Best from 2024 through 2037. - Bruce Sanderson

Grégory Patriat calls this "the beast", not because its expressions are but because it reminds him to take it easy here. He does a single punch down then lets it "infuse". The power of Grèves–whose power is further amped up given the concentrated fruit from these 70-to 80-year-old vines, is in evidence here –but in a gentle giant sort of way. Roaring with ripe blueberries and spiced Marasca cherries, there is an almost lusty amount of fruit packed onto the palate. This considered, the lightly grippy–and not at all drying –tannins are well-placed. Oak spice pops up on the youthfully firm finish.

Toasty and leesy, with generous minerality underlying apple, lime and citronella aromas and flavors. Sleek and well-defined, with a vibrant aftertaste of citrus, orchard fruit, stone and spices. Best from 2025 through 2037.

The 2021 Charmes-Chambertin les Mazoyères Grand Cru comes from 114-yearold vines and is one of the few to contain stems this year, just 10%. It has an open-knit bouquet with red fruit, bay leaf and Earl Grey, nicely defined but certainly missing some power. The palate is clean and fresh with crunchy red fruit, slightly ferrous with a bit of dryness towards the finish. But there is a sense of complexity here, and I find this Charmes-Chambertin has plenty of character and sapidity.

The 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from three plots. It takes time to unfurl on the nose, eventually offering citrus fruit, popcorn and hints of Mirabelle. The palate is balanced with an attractive, slightly waxy texture. It shows fine depth with the mineralité eventually surfacing with aeration. Afford this three or four years in bottle.

The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is slightly more oxidative in style compared to the Bâtard-Montrachet, with grilled walnut and a subtle florlike scent emerging with time. The palate is balanced with a vibrant opening. It has a little more horsepower than the Bâtard-Montrachet and a spicier finish. This gains intensity in the glass and does eventually overtake the Bâtard.

Bright cherry and raspberry fruit flavors hold court in this light-bodied red, which is firm and persistent, gathering accents of earth and tomato leaf as this delivers a long finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. 385 cases made, 24 cases imported. — BS

The 2020 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has 100% whole bunch, though stems neatly enmeshed on the nose with hints of blueberry and cassis infusing the red fruit. A little timid at the moment, it will open with bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine acidity, just a little chewiness on the entry. Structured on the finish, this is quite a "serious" Bonnes-Mares that just needs to muster more charm on the finish

The 2020 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru contains 100% whole bunch this year. I appreciate the aromatics here - well-defined, fragrant and quite floral, there offers fine mineralité and tension. The palate is mediumbodied with supple tannins, very harmonious with a bead of acidity that lends finesse and elegant towads the finish. This is clever winemaking and a successful Corton. Excellent.

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice was completely-destemmed this year. It offers brambly red berry fruit laced with rose petals and peony on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, lithe in the mouth, no hard edges here with a lightly peppered, quite finessed finish. Worth seeking out.

From eight different parcels including 20% whole bunch with some Premier Cru fruit, the 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village has an attractive, well-defined bouquet with brambly red fruit, white pepper and a touch of tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, cohesive, fine build in the mouth towards a lightly spiced finish with a slight gamey aftertaste. This should age well in bottle.

A powerful and serious red Burgundy, this is a blend from two parcels in Gilly-lès-Citeaux, near the domaine’s base in Vougeot, and two parcels in Beaune. It layers rose scents and flavors of cranberry and anise over substantial tannins, the structure sophisticated and firm.

 

Black cherry and toasty vanilla aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this muscular red. Hints of tobacco and chocolate linger. The firm structure begs for patience. 

This is supple and spicy, with flavors of vanilla and sweet baking spices framing the strawberry and currant fruit. Shows light touches of earth and mineral as this finishes with a chalky sensation. Elegant. 

This enticing white, offering apple, lime, floral and mineral aromas and flavors, with a touch of oak spice, is balanced, with moderate length. Drink now through 2018. –BS

Soft notes of petrol sit atop the mostly floral and white orchard fruit scents. The rich, round and very generously proportioned flavors are forward o the point of being almost soft and this easy-to-like effort should drink well immediately.