2013 Domaine Michel Gros Clos de Vougeot

Domaine Michel Gros is a 47-acre domain in Vosne-Romanee. It is part of the former Louis Gros domaine, which was founded in the 19th century then split up in 1963 among three children in the family. In recent decades it has been further divided as adult children have inherited vineyards. This property officially went to Michel, the son of Jean Gros, in 1995, though he had been making the wine here for several decades before that. The estate makes Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, and has Premier Cru parcels in Vosne Romanee, including the monopole Clos des Reas, and Premier Cru parcels in Nuits Saint Georges. There are also villages wines. Clive Coates has written that the wines of Domaine Michel Gros “are very pure and very intense.."

Clos de Vougeot is a walled vineyard that dominates the tiny commune of Vougeot in Burgundy’s Nuits-St.-Georges. The 124-acre Grand Cru vineyard includes a historic chateau that in 1945 was purchased by the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, an organization devoted to promoting the traditions of Burgundy and its wines. The impressive chateau is the organization’s headquarters. Clos de Vougeot was established as a vineyard by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, then sold off to private owners after the French Revolution. The vineyard is unusual for a Grand Cru in that it includes land that runs down to the main road. The soil is light limestone with sand. Principal landowners are Chateau de la Tour, with 13 acres; Meo-Camuzet, 7.5 acres; Rebourseau, 5.5 acres; Louis Jadot, 5.3 acres; and Leroy, 5 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.

Grand Maupertuis