The Clos de Vougeot is one of Burgundy’s great landmarks. First planted with vines in the 11th century, the wall around the vineyard dates to 1336, and the majestic Chateau to 1551. It’s a Burgundian icon, both of culture and viticulture.
With more than 80 owners across an astounding 50 hectares (120 acres) of vines, the wines from the Clos de Vougeot vary widely in character and quality. We’re pleased to offer, for the first time ever, two wines from this historic and iconic Grand Cru. Each is distinct, but both offer superb, honest expressions of this famous vineyard.
Michel Gros Clos de Vougeot 2017
Michel Gros is among our most talented and best known winemakers. His two tenths of a hectare in the Clos represent just 0.4% of the vineyard – but if you had to pick a corner of Clos Vougeot for your couple rows of vines, Gros’s plot is where you’d pick. The “Grand Maupertuis” is considered one of the finest “neighborhoods” in the massive vineyard, and Michel’s tiny sliver of land here produces magnificent wine.
The 2017 vintage is offering beautiful early drinking – Gros’s village 2017s are magnificent today – and we think even the Clos Vougeot, typically Gros’s longest lived wine, will not require the decade of patience it often does. Writer Sarah Marsh MW calls it “layered and powerful” with “no lack of structure…nicely refined and compact.” Give this another 3-5 years and enjoy a delicious slice of history.
bottle price: $225
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Couvent Clos de Vougeot 2019
In comparison, the Domaine du Couvent’s Clos de Vougeot parcel is relatively huge – indeed only eight growers own more land. Couvent, a reinvention of Domaine des Varoilles, is an exciting addition to our portfolio, and their Clos de Vougeot is a terrific start. Winemaker Philippe Cheron draws from 75-year-old vines for his plot, which is just south of Michel Gros’s.
The 2019 Clos de Vougeot from Couvent is tightly coiled and beautifully balanced. Vinous’s Neal Martin scored it 92-94, praising its “attractive nose of brambly red berry fruit, morels and tobacco, nicely focused and showing good intensity,” and calling it “a superb Clos Vougeot.” Inside Burgundy’s Jasper Morris awarded it 93-95: “This is surprisingly easy-going at the front end then a little touch of acidity and more structure behind, providing the typically robust Clos Vougeot experience.”
bottle price: $225
