1999 Daniel Rion Vosne Romanee Beaux Monts

Domaine Daniel Rion is a 45-acre estate based in Premeaux. It was started in 1955 when Daniel Rion inherited 5 acres and began growing grapes to sell to negociants. Starting in 1978 Rion’s sons joined the family business and the domaine added vineyards, built a larger cellar and started selling wine under their own label. Today the estate is still family run and has parcels in 18 appellations. The estate has a Grand Cru parcel in Clos Vougeot as well as Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-Saints-Georges.

Les Beaux Monts is a 28.6-acre Premier Cru vineyard in the Vosne-Romanee appellation of Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. It is on the northern edge of the appellation, bordering Flagey-Echezeaux. The vineyard has a southern exposure, and the soil is part clay and marl. It is one of the largest of Vosne-Romanee’s Premier Crus. Clive Coates calls Les Beaux Monts “a nice big wine, but nonetheless perfumed, full of finesse, even lush.”

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.