2011 Domaine A.-F. Gros Chambolle-Musigny

The domaine was established in 1988 when the parents of Anne-Françoise, Jean and Jeanine Gros of Vosne-Romanée decided to let go of a few parcels of the family domaine. The Gros family has been making wine in Burgundy since the mid -1800s as one generation after another has taken over the family enterprise and also branched out into their own wine producing endeavors. Anne-Françoise also acquired a domaine in Flagey-Échezeaux. Later, with her husband François Parent, she purchased a vineyard in Savigny-les-Beaune. The domaine now includes vineyards in numerous appellations, including Vosne-Romanee, Chambolle Musigny, Pommard and Beaune. Francois and Anne-Francois say that in Burgundy every appellation has a personality. "Each wine is bursting with a color and substance of its own, and that is the sensation you have in the palate, unique and different for each appellation."

Côte de Nuits is the northern part of the Côte d’Or and it includes the most famous vineyards and wine communes in the world. There are more Grand Cru appellations in the Côte de Nuits than anywhere else in Burgundy. Of the fourteen communes, or villages in the Côte de Nuits, six produce Grand Cru wines. They are Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St.-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Flagey-Échezeaux and Vosne-Romanee. Some of the vineyards within the Côte de Nuits are tiny, which adds to their prestige. The fabled Grand Cru vineyard La Romanee is barely two square acres. Altogether there are twenty-four Grand Cru vineyards. The region takes its name from the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Côtes de Nuits produces mostly reds from Pinot Noir, and the wines have been in demand for centuries. During the 18th century King Louis XIV’s physician recommended that for his health the king only drink wines from Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like most of Burgundy, the soils of the Côte de Nuit can vary greatly from one vineyard to another, though most are a base soil of limestone mixed with clay, gravel and sand.

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.