Wine Advisor
Rene Engel, Echezeaux Grand Cru 2002
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Roberson’s Echezeaux tasting. The Engel does not quite have the definition on Arnoux’s 2002 when contrasted side by side. Very good lift, ripe raspberry and wild strawberry...I like the refinement and the naturalness here. Gaining intensity and coalescing in the glass. The palate is a little more tart, more pointed than the Arnoux, very vibrant and vigorous with clean crisp red-berries and mulberry, shot through with a citrus edge. This is just drinking beautifully now. I just would have liked a little more length, but that is just quibbling. This is a beautiful wine from the late Philip Engel. Drink now-2018+ Tasted October 2009.
Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani
Produced from 40-year-old vines, the ruby-colored 2002 Echezeaux sports a magnificent nose of violet-laced red berries. Refined, medium-bodied, and displaying outstanding depth of fruit, it coats the palate with velvety waves of red and black cherries. Projected maturity: 2006-2014. Importer: A Peter Vezan Selection, Paris fax #011-33-1-42-55-42-93
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Domaine Engel tasting in London, the 2002 Echézeaux Grand Cru does not quite possess the precision and energy of the 2002 Les Brûlées: straight-laced, dark berry fruit, a touch of cola coming through with aeration. It actually improves in the glass, gaining more cohesion and intensity. The palate is well balanced with fine body and sinew. It is bestowed with a wonderful, almost arching structure, possessing a greater frame than the Les Brûlées albeit without the same personality and charisma. It is at its peak and at the end of the day, a brilliant Echézeaux in a year when the domaine did no wrong. Tasted October 2016.
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.
