2017 Seguin Manuel Vosne-Romanee Aux Communes, 1.5ltr

Domaine Seguin-Manuel is on Beaune property that has been planted to vineyards for nearly 200 years. But in 2004 the domaine was purchased by Thibaut Marion, a career vigneron whose family has been in the wine business for ten generations. Marion rejuvenated the domaine, which is also a negociant, and built a new winery. He also started growing organically and now all his holdings, both estate owned and leased, are organic. The estate produces about 80,000 bottles annually. Although estate vineyards were once located only in Savigny-lès-Beaune, today there are parcels in the villages of Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, Meursault and Vosne-Romanée. Seguin-Manuel makes a broad portfolio of red and white wines. Wine Advocate’s reviewer noted that “I have long been a supporter of Thibaut. He is a very considered winemaker, never pushing things too much, gradually building an admirable portfolio of both domaine and contracted bottlings…”

Vosne-Romanée is the most prestigious appellation in Burgundy. Its 449 acres of vineyards are in and around the village of Vosne-Romanée and they include renowned Grand Cru vineyards which produce some of the world’s most coveted – and costly —wines. The Grands Crus are Richebourg, La Romanée, Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and La Tâche. The Grand Crus Échezeaux and Grands- Échezeaux are actually located in the neighboring village of Flagey-Échezeaux, but legally they can be sold under the Vosne-Romanée appellation. There are also seventeen Premier Crus in Vosne-Romanée. Wine writer Clive Coates has called Vosne-Romanée “the greatest Pinot Noir village on earth” and notes that the appellation’s style “is for wines which are rich, austere, sensual, masculine and aristocratic.”

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.