DOMAINE DE LA VOUGERAIE Chassagne-Montrachet 'Clos de la Chapelle' 1er Cru 2023 CASE x 6 Bottles BIO - PRE-RELEASE

Description

With nearly 40 hectares of vineyard and over 30 different appellations, including six grand crus (Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Clos Vougeot, Charmes Chambertin, Mazoyères, Corton Clos du Roi and Corton Charlemagne), this is one of Burgundy’s leading domaines.

No expense has been spared in production terms. The premier and grand cru vineyards are all farmed biodynamically with carefully limited yields. The cellar has been equipped with a battery of new or renovated wooden fermentation vats, a state of the art sorting table and a new model of the old fashioned vertical press which is thought to be the best option for red wines. The wines were made by Pascal Marchand of Comte Armand in Pommard, from 1999 to 2005 and subsequently by Pierre Vincent who has maintained the more delicate approach. The grapes are sorted on one of the longest tables de tri I have seen, before being given a cool pre-maceration. During fermentation Pierre punches down only once a day, much less than Pascal used to. The temperature is maintained at 26º-28ºC/79-81ºF after fermentation to polymerise the tannins and fix the colour. Starting in 2008 he has begun to experiment with some whole bunch fermentation, though only for a proportion of a given cuvée.

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The vineyard was first established on this site around 1150, at the hands of monks who founded the Morgeot Priory and subsequently the Cistercian Abbey of Morgeot, including the chapel walls that still stand today. This 4.5-hectare vineyard has stood the test of time in this deep terroir where marl and clay prevail over limestone, and expresses itself in two colors: radiant gold and shimmering ruby. This great wine touches the soul as well as the body, and the percentage of old vines contributes to its racy opulence.

The harvest began on the 30th of August. The fermentation has started in stainless steel and finished in Allier and Cîteaux oak barrels (medium toast) with againg of 16 months in oak barrels (20% new).

Very aromatic vintage with notes of stonefruit and clementine notes, beautifuly balanced and lifted finish.

Jasper Morris 92-94 points: "Pale lemon colour, a little bit of well-chosen oak on the nose, with a refined but intense white orchard fruit beneath. The skin of a clementine, suggests Sylvie. This starts well in the mouth then kicks on beautifully with a refined acidity. A high class Morgeot with excellent persistence." Drink from 2029-2035. Tasted Nov 2024.