1996 Domaine Francois Lamarche Clos de Vougeot, 1.5ltr

Domaine Francois Lamarche is a 28-acre estate in Vosne-Romanee. Its history dates to the early 19th century, when Henri Lamarche, a cooper, married Marie Grivelet from Chambolle-Musigny and the couple started making wine. Today the fifth and sixth generations of the family run the estate. Francois Lamarche is winemaker and his wife Marie-Blanche is in charge of sales. The estate has Grand Cru parcels in Clos-de-Vougeot, Grands Echezeaux, Echezeaux and Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-St.-Georges les Cras. It also owns La Grand Rue Grand Cru, a 4-acre monopole.

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.