1996 Rene Engel Vosne-Romanee Les Brulees

Rene Engel was a 21-acre domaine in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. It was highly regarded by wine writers and collectors for its Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot, Grand-Echezeaux, Echezeaux, and Vosne-Romanee. Clive Coates wrote that the domaine made wine “of great intensity, splendid style and individuality and real power to last.” However in 2005 Philippe Engel, son of Rene, died at age 49. The estate’s 2005 cuvees were sold in bulk and the estate itself was sold to Francois Pinault, owner of Chateau Latour. There is no longer a domaine Rene Engel.

Les Brulees is an 11.25-acre Premier Cru vineyard in the Vosne-Romanee appellation of Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Though it is divided by a road, the vineyard enjoys both a southeastern and northeastern exposure. Clive Coates calls Les Brulees “wine with backbone, richness and depth in a particularly masculine way.”

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.