Press Room

Domaine de la Vougeraie Reviews

Score: 90 | November 30, 2016 | Wine Advocate

Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru was missing some complexity on the nose compared to the Bonnes-Mares from Bruno Clair, with sweet red cherries and a touch of kirsch. Yet it needs to show more mineralité and terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe red cherries and strawberry and showing quite a lot of structure towards the finish that grips the palate. I would just like more persistence to show through here. Tasted September 2016.

Score: 90 | October 1, 2016 | Wine & Spirits

The standout among all the Bourgogne rouge we tasted for this issue, this smells like Burgundy ("Tart and stinky," said Sarah Looper of SevenFifty.com. Burgundy needs to stink. It shouldn't smell like the buxom fruit of California.") It's a blend focoused on clay soils, from two parcels in Gilly-lès-Citeaux (east of the D974, near Vougeot and Chambolle), and two parcels in Beaune (one-quarter of the blend comes from Montèe Rouge, where the vines date to the early 1950s). Harmonious, red fruited, with bright sour cherry flavors, delicate herb flavor tannins and meaty notes, this is soft on acidity in the end, even as the aroma draws you back for another sip. 

Score: 93 | October 1, 2016 | Wine & Spirits

This 7.4-acre clos rises toward the top of the hill just north of the village; half of the vines date back to 1975, the other half were replanted in 2013. The vineyards chalky soils, organically farmed and certified since 2000, built a wine with a tense floral buzz. Its vibrant, vibrating flavors of forest mushrooms, raspberries and raspberry seeds feel more umami than fruity, restrained by powerful tannins that slowly release the equally powerful fruit. It continues to reveal layer upon layer of flavor as the inner strength of the wine shows its potential for long aging. 

Score: 90 | October 1, 2016 | Wine & Spirits

Catch this as a young wine, while the tension in its structure elevates the delicate dried herb notes, and Brett adds detail to the tannins, a little dry, but spicy and delicious. Packed with a sweet cherry fruit, this is solidly built Gevrey, ready to drink with a steak. 

Score: 92 | June 30, 2016 | Wine Spectator

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.

Score: 90 | June 30, 2016 | Wine Spectator

Lime and lime blossom aromas lead off, with apple, lemon and spice notes underneath. Though on the slim, linear side, this is balanced and ends with a chalky feel. Drink now through 2019.  —B.S.

Score: 93 | March 14, 2016 | Vinous/Antonio Galloni

Healthy dark red. Superripe, liqueur-like aromas of red cherry, damp earth, tobacco and dried rose. Lush, sweet and rich but also very pure, conveying a strong impression of terroir to its powerful flavors of dark fruits, minerals, spices and Gevrey earth. Turns drier and more classic on the back end. A very dense example of Charmes-Chambertin, but then these vines are in Mazoyères. Finishes with an enticing combination of sweetness and firm minerality. — Stephen Tanzer

Score: 91+ | March 14, 2016 | Vinous/Antonio Galloni

Good medium red. Musky, slightly rustic nose shows more red than black fruits, with complicating notes of underbrush, herbs and pepper. Very rich, tactile, dry and backward, showing more minerality and medicinal reserve than primary berry or cherry fruit in the early going. Tough going today in spite of its depth of texture and richness. Not at all a sweet style. Vincent told me he prefers the easier sweetness of the 2014, noting that, in general, he regards the 2010 vintage as the best compromise between sweetness and energy since he took over winemaking here in 2006. — Stephen Tanzer

Score: 91+ | March 14, 2016 | Vinous/Antonio Galloni

Good medium red. Cool, medicinal black cherry, blueberry and violet on the nose. Concentrated, ripe and sappy, showing excellent texture and intense spice character for the vintage. Finishes juicy and long, with some very ripe chocolate tones and big, tactile tannins that avoid dryness. This will need patience. —Stephen Tanzer

Score: (93-95) | December 29, 2014 | Wine Advocate

Now labeled just “Charlemagne” sans its prefix, which its two plots are perfectly entitled to, the 2013 Charlemagne Grand Cru was 80% damaged by the hail storm, which equates to four barrels. It has a well-defined, lightly honeyed bouquet with fine definition and intensity. The palate is vibrant with convincing mineralité, just a touch of reduction lending complexity with very good weight on the sour-lemon finish. Excellent.