Wine Advisor
Vougeraie, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2009
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2009 Bonnes Mares is sweet, rich and dense, with layers of fruit that emerge in a sensual expression of this site. This is an especially silky Bonnes Mares that is almost certain to tighten up after bottling. Hail in May lowered yields by 20% but seems to have only had a positive effect. The estate used 50% whole clusters and the wine was aged in 70% new oak. Tasted from barrel. Anticipated: 2019-2029. Biodynamic farming and non-interventionalist winemaking are at the heart of the approach at Domaine de la Vougeraie. The 2009s saw roughly a 25 days of maceration (including a week of cold soak) with one punch down a day. Once in barrel racking was kept to a bare minimum. A number of wines were bottled in late 2010 and early 2011. I tasted these wines with winemaker Pierre Vincent in March 2011. Importer: Boisset Family Estates, St. Helena, CA; tel. (800) 878-1123
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted out of barrel at the Domaine. This suffered less hail damage than the Charmes-Chambertin, this has wild hedgerow, dark berried fruits on the slightly tertiary nose. This is a -serious- Bonnes-Mares. The palate is tannic and quite masculine, but good acidity and good definition towards the finish. The oak is a little pronounced but hopefully it will subsume into the fabric of the wine. Rather stern at the moment. Tasted November 2010.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2009 Bonnes-Mares is wonderfully nuanced and detailed. It is easily the most reticent of the estate’s 2009 grand crus. The wine’s energy and length come through most clearly at this stage. The Bonnes-Mares deserves to be cellared for at least a few years, but its pedigree is ample and significant even today. Readers will need to be patient. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Importer: Boisset Family Estates, St. Helena, CA; tel. (800) 878-1123
About the Producer
Domaine de la Vougeraie is located in the wine-producing village of Premeaux between Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune in Burgundy, France. Chateau Vujaré was formally established in 1999 and is the property of one of the Burgundy wine merchant giants, the Posset family. The name of the winery "Vougeraie" means that the family owns a large piece of land in Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot), which is also the name of Claude's private residence in Vougeot. Today, the Posset family has effectively integrated the French and American wine industries and has become one of the world's premier luxury wine producers. Wujielai Winery has 67 vineyards with a total area of more than 34 hectares. Two-thirds of the winery's vineyards are located in the Côte de Nuits, and the rest are in the Côte de Beaune. Each area of the winery has different soil and climatic conditions. Some areas are dominated by sandy clay on the surface and clay on the bottom layer, which is suitable for planting Pinot Noir. Some parks have chalk (Chalk) soil, more pebbles, and Pinot Noir is also planted. The winery has been using organic farming methods to manage the vineyards since 1998. In 1999, the organic method of growing the vineyard was officially approved. Since 2001, the vineyards have been managed using Biodynamic methods. During the grape harvest season, the growers will regularly measure the grapes to ensure the best balance between the sugar content, pH and acidity of the grapes, and predict the best time for grape picking in turn, and then pick the grapes manually . Biodynamic method is a major feature of Wujielai Winery. The biodynamic method regards the entire planting area as a whole, emphasizing biodiversity. By studying the changes of the sun, the moon and the stars, and giving corresponding guidance at the right time, the vitality of animals and plants can be enhanced. Guided by the biodynamic calendar, biodynamic methods run through the entire process of viticulture, pruning and harvesting. This biodynamic calendar includes fruit days, root days, flower days and leaf days. All kinds of winemaking equipment in the winery are large in scale and of very good quality.
