Weather dictates just about everything in the life of a vigneron. We often meet winemakers who can instantly recall rainfall levels and harvest dates from 30 years ago. The 2024 vintage is one many would soon rather forget – bad flowering, mildew, and endless rain dramatically reduced yields at most domaines.
At Michel Gros in Vosne Romanée, quantities were down 60% on average, a result of low yields but also aggressive sorting. The remaining wines are terrific – perhaps our favorite 2024s we tasted – but sadly quite limited in quantity. Our tiny allocation of 2024s will be in next Sunday’s November Futures release and we’re excited to tell you about them soon.
In the meantime, Pierre Gros has offered a nice selection of 2023s to fill the gaps – an abundant and terrific vintage that’s already delicious. One of our favorite 2023 cuvées is the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits rouge, and as luck would have it, it’s still available in France. We’re getting more for our own stock, and invite you to join us.
We opened this over the weekend at the Depot and it stole the show. The nose is classic Gros – silky and earthy with a dose of toast mixed with wild cherry. The mouth is smooth and pretty with beautiful energy and subtle tannin. Neal Martin of Vinous agreed, finding “fine-boned tannins…a pleasant chalky finish,” and counseled “enjoy this over three of four years.”
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better house red Burgundy, and with a futures price around $32/bot this is among the best buys we know.
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Michel Gros Hautes-Côtes de Nuits rouge 2023
Retail: $504 per case
Futures: $395/case ($32.92/bot)
