1998 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot Le Grand Maupertuis

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.

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.