Maison Roche de Bellene, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Burgundy

An introduction to Maison Roche de Bellene, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Burgundy

Like most vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, Clos de Vougeot is planted entirely with Pinot Noir. Clos de Vougeot also has the distinction of being the largest of all the Grand Crus sites in the prestigious Burgundy sub-region. As a result, there is a vast myriad of soil types and aspects, with those higher up the hill benefitting from the best terroir. With a network of growers across Burgundy’s best sites, Maison Roche de Bellene decide each vintage which specific parcels to use, sometimes selecting fruit from more than one plot. The Maison’s emphasis is on sustainable and organic farming in the vineyards. The fruit, or base wine always come from old-vines, which in Clos de Vougeot have been planted on south-facing clay-limestone soils at an elevation of 280m. The annual production of Maison Roche de Bellene Clos de Vougeot is often less than 300 bottles.

Performance

Understanding Maison Roche de Bellene, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Burgundy

Made from the region’s signature Pinot Noir grape, the wine is produced from hand-harvested fruit. The cuvée uses a proportion of whole bunches during the indigenous yeast fermentation and spends up to 18 months in oak barrel (50% to 100% new). Usually bottled filtered but unfined (vintage dependant), the Clos de Vougeot has attractive floral notes, and is sweetly spiced with a predominantly black fruit profile. With firm tannins and a tendency towards austerity in youth, the wine will reward extended cellaring of upwards of 15 years.

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