Wine Advisor
Rene Engel, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2002
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The late Philippe Engel seemed to do no wrong in this vintage, as this exquisite 2002 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru will testify. There is immense precision and detail on the nose, a sense of symmetry that is translated through to the palate. There is a brightness to the mineral-rich wild strawberry and cranberry fruit. The palate echoes a Vosne-Romanée Malconsort in terms of structure, symmetrical, surfeit with poise and sophistication. What a wonderful Clos de Vougeot! This is utterly sublime. Tasted June 2015.
Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani
As was noted in the introduction, 2002 will long be remembered as a great vintage for Clos Vougeot and Engel’s is no exception. Produced from 50-year-old vines and aged in 80% new oak, this medium to dark ruby-colored wine sports an earthy black cherry, intensely spicy nose. Concentrated, deep, and intense, it is crammed with loads of black cherries, spices, and blackberries whose flavors linger in its superbly soft and lengthy finish. Projected maturity: 2007-2015. Importer: A Peter Vezan Selection, Paris fax #011-33-1-42-55-42-93
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Definitely the pick of Engels wines. A wonderful minerally nose with superb definition and power. Very perfumed and beguiling with a hint of dried blood. The palate is quite masculine, tannic with good grip and persistency. Very fresh with a note of black tea on the finish. A lovely wine, brilliantly made. Tasted January 2004.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Domaine Engel tasting in London, the 2002 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is still a fabulous wine, consummate 2002 red Burgundy. It has a fragrant and floral bouquet with wilted rose petals and just a hint of peony, all with tip-top focus and almost disarming precision. This is a case of less is more. The palate is medium-bodied and very complex with notes of sour cherry, cranberry and underlying minerals. Like before, there is a wondrous sense of symmetry that makes this Clos de Vougeot effortless, while the finish lingers and never wants to leave. Nor do you want it to. Tasted October 2016.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Another strong showing for the 2002 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru from the late Philippe Engel. The nose is ethereal, offering raspberry and crushed strawberry scents, and the palate is extraordinary in terms of focus. The finish oddly reminds me of Engel's Grands Echézeaux. Magnificent. Tasted at Noizé restaurant in London.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2002 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is a wine that I used to drink regularly when released and before prices soared. It is a wonderful wine. This bottle has a gorgeous, quintessentially Engel bouquet with dark berry fruit, wilted rose petals and perhaps just a little more brine than I have observed upon previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly firm tannin, notes of sour red cherries and crushed strawberry that dovetail into darker fruit towards the symmetrical finish. Maybe not quite the best bottle that I have encountered but this is still a great Clos Vougeot. Tasted at Lorne restaurant in London.
About the Producer
Domaine René Engel was one of the leading lights of Vosne-Romanée until the tragic death of Philippe Engel, grandson of the founder, in 2005. Philippe took over the domaine on the early death of his father Pierre in 1981. However he continued to benefit from the advice of his legendary grandfather, René Engel, for several years, though occasionally having to ban him from the cellar when his interventions were becoming too intrusive. By the early 1990s he had established his reputation for making exceptionally delicious wines. He had a light hand with extraction, preferring to emphasise the natural qualities of the fruit, supported by the judicious use of new oak – rarely more than 50% except for the grand crus in exceptional vintages. The wines were fine and elegant, deceptively approachable when young though capable of long ageing. Perhaps the heyday of Philippe’s period in charge was around 1992 and 1993, by which time he had fully found his style and was running the domaine with energy and passion. The flagship of the 6 hectare domaine was a wonderful Clos Vougeot from near the top of the Clos, along with a very fine Grands Echezeaux. These were supported by a third grand cru, Echezeaux, premier cru Vosne Romanée Les Brulées and a delicious village Vosne Romanée. Five wines were made: a village Vosne-Romanée from numerous plots totalling 2.5 hectares; a premier cru Les Brûlées (1.05 hectares) from old vines, the youngest being planted in 1956 by a combination of René and Pierre Engel who somehow did not quite get their rows to meet; and three grands crus, Echézeaux (0.55 hectare), Clos Vougeot (1.37 hectares) and Grands Echézeaux (0.50 hectare). It seemed to vary according to the year which of Clos de Vougeot and Grands Echézeaux turned out to be the finest wine. Both were usually outstanding, and a clear cut ahead of the Echézeaux. The Clos came from a single plot, very well situated on the upper-mid slopes just south of the château itself.
