2016 Emmanuel Rouget Echezeaux

Emmanuel Rouget is the nephew of the late, great Henri Jayer, one of Burgundy’s legendary winemakers. Rouget started making wines under his own label in 1985 after having apprenticed with his famous uncle for many years. Rouget owns and leases a total of 18 acres in Echezeaux, Vosne-Romanee and Savigny-les-Beaune. The Echezeaux and Vosne-Romanee are Grand Cru. He also produces several villages wines. The signature wine is the Cros Parantoux, though Robert M. Parker Jr. notes that Rouget “routinely bottles outstanding generic cuvees…”

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.