Emblematic of the great terroirs of the Côte de Nuits, the Domaine Vougeraie 2021 - Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru AOC is aimed at enthusiasts who value the purity and expressiveness of a legendary climats more than the opulent show of a sunniest vintage. Here, the grace of Pinot Noir is hinted at, in a lace-like aesthetic where stem presence, freshness and stony notes answer one another. From two parcels totalling 0.7 hectare, with vines over 65 years old, this 75 cl Grand Cru offers an intensely terroir-driven reading. The 2021 vintage reveals a nose marked by the influence of whole-cluster harvesting, a herbaceous touch that asserts itself with aeration, and a medium-bodied palate with a frank attack and finely chiseled tannins. Charming in its uprightness, it needs time for the fullness of its texture to emerge, a promise kept between 2026 and 2040. Rated 90 by Vinous in a blind tasting at Burgfest, it claims the discreet charm of great wines made for patience.

Blend and vinification

This Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is produced exclusively from Pinot Noir, a faithful reflection of Burgundy’s flagship grape. The grapes come from two parcels totaling 0.7 hectare, a legacy of vines over sixty-five years old whose deep roots feed a precise expression of the soil. The presence of stems, embraced in the spirit of infusion, brings a noble vegetal aromatic dimension and underlines the energetic backbone of the wine. The élevage, deliberately restrained and respectful of fruit purity, aims for clarity of expression rather than ornament. Every gesture, from harvest to bottling, is part of a quest for accuracy, preserving the finesse of the grain, the verticality of the structure and the limestone signature of the cru.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Light ruby with cherry highlights, delicately shiny, announcing measured extraction and great transparency of material.
• Nose: Nuanced bouquet mixing morello cherry, pomegranate and cranberry with inflections of stem, tomato leaf and fine herbs. With aeration, peony, white pepper and a hint of forest floor emerge, extending the complexity.
• Palate: Bright, clean attack, medium-bodied with a firm texture, striking and precise tannins. The vegetal thread, straight and mouthwatering, accompanies a stony, prolonged finish that signs the terroir’s identity. Patience recommended for a harmonious integration.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 15 and 16°C in large-bowled Burgundy glasses to encourage the release of the subtlest aromas. A careful decant of 45 to 60 minutes can help the youth open up without blunting the freshness. For an accomplished tasting, wait until 2026 to 2040, when the structure will gain suppleness and the vegetal signature complexity. Store bottles on their side, away from light, at a stable temperature.

Food pairings

• Starters: veal carpaccio, tuna tartare with fine herbs, poultry terrine with pistachios.
• Main courses: roasted guinea fowl with chanterelles, pink duck with reduced jus, braised milk‑fed veal with root vegetables.
• Game: roasted pheasant, grilled wood pigeon, braised hare, favouring precise cooking and vegetable garnishes.
• Cheeses: aged Comté, Brillat‑Savarin, lightly salted mountain tomme, to preserve the delicacy of the tannic grain.
• Vegetarian cuisine: herb risotto, roasted beetroot with red berries, thin caramelized onion tart.

Moments to enjoy

This Bonnes‑Mares Grand Cru accompanies moments when time slows and conversation sharpens, when the art of the table dialogues with the memory of place.

• For a gourmet dinner where precise service and dishes highlight its verticality.
• During a Bonnes‑Mares vertical, to appreciate the uniqueness of the 2021 vintage through the prism of terroir.
• As an insider’s gift for an enthusiast who cherishes age-worthy wines with a refined style.

Specifications

• Name: Domaine de la Vougeraie, Bonnes‑Mares Grand Cru 2021
• Appellation: Bonnes‑Mares Grand Cru AOC
• Type: Red wine
• Vintage: 2021
• Grape variety: Pinot Noir (100%)
• Alcohol: Not disclosed
• Aging: Not disclosed
• Volume: 75 cl
• Cellaring: 2026 to 2040
• Serving temperature: 15 to 16°C