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.

The 2009 Bonnes Mares is sweet, rich and dense, with layers of fruit that emerge in a sensual expression of this site. This is an especially silky Bonnes Mares that is almost certain to tighten up after bottling. Hail in May lowered yields by 20% but seems to have only had a positive effect. The estate used 50% whole clusters and the wine was aged in 70% new oak. Tasted from barrel. Anticipated: 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.

The 2009 Corton Le Clos du Roi (from 65-year-old vines) is elegant and subtle wine. Generous fruit radiates from the warm, open center. This is a totally classy wine that caresses the palate with silky tannins and impeccable grace. Here Vincent used a lower percentage of whole clusters (20%) than in a number of other wines, and employed 60% new oak barrels. 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.

The 2009 Vougeot Les Cras is a mid-weight translucent red. Sweet spices, menthol and flowers add complexity to the dark fruit. The Cras is sensual, round and inviting all the way to the finish. This is a gorgeous, inviting wine. The Cras has 50% whole bunches and 45% new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. 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.

The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Damodes emerges from the glass with big, muscular fruit. This is a decidedly extroverted, dark wine that fills out its broad shouldered frame well. The Damodes is made in a style that pushes ripeness to the extreme. Here the estate used 40% whole clusters. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. 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.

The 2009 Vougeot Le Clos du Prieure is another of the more delicate, restrained wines in this lineup. Sweet, silky tannins and floral notes round out the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022. 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.

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice is quite a bit fleshier than the villages. This is a decidedly powerful, dense wine with tons of mid-palate energy and depth. The fruit is round, inviting and vibrant. This bottling is a selection of the estate’s best parcels planted on the limestone-rich part of the vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2019. 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.

The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles is elegant, sleek and refined. It shows wonderful nuance and detail in its aromas and flavors, not to mention considerable class. The vines here are 45 years old. The percentage of whole clusters was 30% here and new oak was 40%. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2029. 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.

The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Corvees Pagets shows the more delicate side of Nuits in its perfumed, silky fruit. Crushed flowers, sweet herbs and mint add layers of nuance while the silky tannins caress the palate on the finish. The Corvees Paget was made with 40% whole bunches. Tasted from tank. 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.

The 2009 Beaune Greves is one of the darker, more brooding wines at La Vougeraie. Smoke, licorice and goudron are some of the nuances that flow from this intense red. Hints of crushed rocks frame the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. 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.