2012 Domaine Anne Gros Richebourg

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.

Richebourg is an 18.3-acre Grand Cru pinot noir vineyard in the Cote de Nuits, within the commune of Vosne-Romanee. The vineyard lies just to the north of La Romanee and Romanee-Conti and is situated at elevations from 260 to 280 meters. The soil is a clay, pebble, limestone and sand mixture. Richebourg includes the subsection of Les Veroilles-sous-Richebourg. Principal landholders of Richebourg are Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, with 8.78 acres; Leroy, with 1.95 acres; and Gros Frere et Soeur, with 1.73 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.