2014 Domaine Forey Pere & Fils Clos Vougeot

Domaine Forey Pere & Fils was founded in 1840 by the great-grandfather of Regis Forey, the current owner and winemaker. The 25-acre domaine has parcels in Nuits Saint Georges, Vosne-Romanee, Flagey-Echezeaux, Vougeot and Morey Saint Denis. There are Grand Cru parcels in Echezeaux and Clos de Vougeot, and Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee, Nuits Saint Georges and Morey Saint Denis. Clive Coates has noted that starting in the mid-1990s the domaine has been using such techniques as partial de-stemming, a short maceration a froid and a cuvaison of up to four weeks. “This results in full, muscular wine,” wrote Coates. “This is now a very good address.”

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.