2003 Frederic Esmonin Clos Vougeot

Domaine Frederic Esmonin and Domaine des Estournelles are both owned and operated by Andre Esmonin and his son Frederic. The family is in Gevrey-Chambertin and they own or lease a total of 15-acres. Until the late 1980s most of what the family grew went to negociants such as Jadot, but starting in the early 1990s the Esmonins made very limited amounts of wine under their own labels. Today they have Grand Cru parcels in Ruchottes-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze, Bonnes-Mares and Chambertin. They have Premier Cru parcels in Gevrey-Chambertin. The Esmonins also run a small negociant business.

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.