Reviews

Though this red is oaky, there's also a whole-cluster feel to it, with sandalwood and vegetal aromas synching with flavors of black currant and blackberry. Iron and sweet baking spices chime in as this plays out on the lingering aftertaste, showing fine balance. Best from 2026 through 2045. - Bruce Sanderson

Bottled in mid-June, the 2020 Pinot Noir No 6 is medium ruby-purple in color. It opens with delicate, earthy/savory notes of wild sage, truffles, tree bark, and tilled soil, with a core of Bing cherries and redcurrants. The medium to full-bodied palate is firm and fine-grained, with fantastic tension leading to a long and minerally finish on this impressive wine.

The 2020 Chardonnay No 81 comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of apricots, green guava, passion fruit, and toasted almonds with hints of cedar, fresh ginger, and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied, it is rich, intense, and decadent in the mouth, with a creamy texture and long, savory finish. JC first came to the USA in 1981 and decided then that he would come back to make wine.

The 2020 Chardonnay No 33 bursts with ripe juicy pears, allspice, honey-drizzled peaches, and grapefruit oil notes, plus a suggestion of honeycomb. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energy and tension, supported by a satiny texture and delivering vibrant citrus and stone fruit layers, finishing long and spicy.

An oaky, heady nose with loads of charm: black plums, black cherry, black tea, sage, gunflint. On the palate it makes a big impression, finishing with a dusting of velvety tannins. Youthful with lovely freshness.

Powerfully lifted black pepper, rose petal, red cherry, forest floor, liquorice, baking spice and herbal aromatics. Really complex, with polished fruits and oak spice on the palate. Watch this space.

The 2020 Charlemagne Grand Cru has a well-defined and quite focused bouquet with admirable mineralité and tension. The palate is taut and fresh, impressive in terms of depth, quite focused and poised with a touch of sea salt towards the finish. Lots of energy here - this is one of Vougeraie’s best whites.

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.