2013 Domaine Anne Gros Echezeaux Les Loachausses

Domaine Anne Gros is a 20-acre estate in Vosne-Romanee, Burgundy, owned and operated by Anne Gros. As a young woman, Gros had no intention of following her father, Francois Gros, into the family business of making wine. She studied literature at university. But when her father became ill in 1988 she took over the estate, earned a degree in viticulture, and began winning critical praise for her wines. In 1995 Domaine Anne Gros was officially launched as a reflection of her stewardship of the estate. Anne Gros’ wines earn high praise from such writers as Clive Coates, who notes that “she has a pure, perfectionistic touch, and the results are wines of great refinement, intensity, purity and depth of character.” The domaine makes Richebourg, Echezeaux and Clos Vougeot Grand Crus, as well as other wines.

Echezeaux is a 93-acre Grand Cru vineyard on the southern edge of the Cote de Nuits. It up the slope from Clos de Vougeot and Grands Echezeaux and is one of the largest grand crus in Burgundy. The vineyard varies in elevation from 250 to 300 meters, and the terroir includes significant clay as well as thin, rocky soil. The largest proprietors are Domaine de la Romanee Conti, with 11.68 acres; Mongeard-Mugneret with 6.25 acres, and Emmanuel-Rouget, with 3.58 acres. Echezeaux produces red wine.

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.