Domaine de la Vougeraie Reviews

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 well-defined red, with cherry, strawberry, sandalwood and mineral flavors fused to a linear frame. Gaining support from lively acidity and dense tannins, this feels balanced overall, with a resonant aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2045. - 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

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 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 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru comes from three parcels. This has quite a strict bouquet, just a touch of reduction to contend with at the moment, but nicely focused. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, fresh and quite zesty although it does not quite deliver the precision of the Charlemagne on the finish at the moment

Three tries were made through the vineyard to make the 2020 Vougeot 1er Cru Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot this year due to differing ripening levels. Orchard fruit, touches of petrichor on the nose, this is quite Puligny-like in style. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, though it just needs a touch of tension and mineralité on the finish. But this is fine overall.

The 2020 Charmes-Chambertin les Mazoyères Grand Cru escaped any frost and did not require sorting. Containing 100% whole bunch, it has a taut and fresh bouquet with raspberry, blackcberry and wild hedgerow aromas, a touch of pencil lead coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, good grip, a Charmes-Chambertin with firm grip on the saline finish. Maybe I am seeking a bit more "charm" although that may develop with  time

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.

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles 1er Cru contains 50% whole bunch. It has a rather broody bouquet, a little introverted at the moment, with dark berry fruit, forest floor and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied, the whole bunch defining the entry, a little stemmy but with decent depth and plenty of freshness on the spicy finish. One of the best Gevrey’s from the Domaine this year.