2005 Domaine de la Vougeraie Savigny les Beaune Les Marconnets

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.

Savigny-lès-Beaune is the third largest producing appellation in the Côte de Beaune and has 1,343 vineyard acres. Located three miles north of Beaune, the commune of Savigny-lès-Beaune is one of Burgundy’s largest communes with early 1,500 inhabitants. Some 97% of the vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir, with the remainder planted to Chardonnay. And though there are no Grands Crus, there are 22 Premiers Crus in whole or part. The appellation is divided into vineyards that are either on the hillsides to the north of the highway and river, or on the hillsides to the south. Many reviewers believe that the best vineyards are to the north of the highway, and they include Aux Serpentieres, Aux Vergelesses, and Les Lavieres, among others. The northern vineyards have some of the best southern exposure in Burgundy, which accounts for the quality of the wines from those vineyards. The wines of Savigny-lès-Beaune are considered lighter than many other Burgundy reds. However Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that the “top wines are usually ready to drink young and are very fruity and stylish…”

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.