2014 Domaine de la Vougeraie Beaune Clos du Roi

Domaine de la Vougeraie is a Burgundy producer and importer of numerous Grands Crus, Premier Crus and villages wines. Based in the village of Premeaux-Prissey in Nuits-St.-Georges, the domaine was founded in 1961 by Jean-Claude Boisset and his wife. Since then the family has acquired numerous domaines in Burgundy, other parts of France, and in California, Canada and Italy. The Boisset Family owns and operates one of France’s largest wine conglomerates. Domaine de la Vougeraie became what it is today when, in 1999, the son and daughter of the founder assembled 86 acres of vineyards across 28 Burgundy appellations and brought them all under the control of Domaine de la Vougeraie. The domaine’s Grand Crus include Bonnes Mares, Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyeres, Clos de Vougeot and Musigny.

Beaune is the heart, soul and capital of Burgundy. A walled, medieval city of ancient buildings and cobble-stoned streets, Beaune is home to the annual Hospices de Beaune wine auction, a charity auction dating to the 15th century. Beaune has always been a natural crossroads, and it was a commercial center as far back as the Roman era. Today Beaune is home to many of Burgundy’s most famous negociants, including Drouhin, Jadot, Latour and Bouchard Pere et Fils. The Beaune appellation includes 1,620 acres of vineyards, of which 95% are planted to Pinot Noir, with the remainder to Chardonnay. Although there are no Grands Crus, there are 44 Premier Cru vineyards which account for nearly half the appellation’s vineyard acreage. The best vineyards are on the upper slopes around the town, and Beaune is especially known for its “clos,” or small, walled vineyards that are often parcels of larger vineyards. There are also Beaune village wines. Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that the primary traits of Beaune reds in the best vintages are “an intense bouquet of berry fruit, principally black cherries and strawberries. The wines are rarely massive or large scaled, relying more on their smooth, silky, berry fruitiness and harmony to seduce…”

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.