Domaine Nicole Lamarche : Clos de Vougeot Grand cru 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2020 from Domaine Nicole Lamarche

Tasting

Nose
Reserved on opening, the nose needs a little time in the glass. It evokes red fruits (redcurrant, wild strawberry, cherry), accompanied by touches of crushed stone. Depending on the taster, it can also appear very floral, with withered rose petals, or earthy, with notes of undergrowth and forest floor. A few hints of sweet spices complete the whole.

Palate
The palate is dense and silky, with plenty of substance. The satiny tannins, fine yet firm, give the wine structure without weighing it down. The finish is long and lightly spiced, with a mineral and saline impression.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs well with poultry and feathered game, roasted or gently cooked, such as pigeon, guinea fowl, wild duck served pink, partridge or pheasant. Reduced juices, confit root vegetables or touches of red fruit can accompany them. It also goes well with pink-roasted veal or lamb, served with wild mushrooms or a celeriac mousseline. At the end of the meal, it can accompany milder washed-rind cheeses, such as young Époisses or Langres.

Serving and Cellaring

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2020 can be decanted for some time before serving, especially in its early years, to let it breathe and soften its tannins. It is served at a moderate temperature, without being overly chilled. This wine is built for ageing and is destined for several years in the cellar.

A Clos de Vougeot from the Côte de Nuits, Dense and Satiny, Crafted by Domaine Nicole Lamarche

The Estate

Based in Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, Domaine Nicole Lamarche is a property of the Lamarche family, formerly known as Domaine François Lamarche. It has carried the name of Nicole Lamarche since the 2018 vintage. Nicole is in charge of both the vineyard and the cellar. The estate is farmed organically and counts several grands crus among its holdings, including the monopole La Grande Rue.

The Vineyard

This grand cru comes from plots located in the lower, middle and upper parts of Clos de Vougeot, a historic walled vineyard. One of them lies in the north-western sector, close to Musigny. Its soils are very limestone-rich and of moderate depth. The others, lower down, rest on slightly deeper soils with more clay. The vineyard is farmed organically.

Vinification and Ageing

The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard, then again on a sorting table at the winery. The plots are vinified together. The harvest is mostly destemmed, with a portion of whole bunches in some vintages. It is placed in open vats, without intensive crushing, and a cold maceration precedes fermentation. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled vats, with moderate pump-overs and punch-downs. The wines are moved by gravity, then aged in oak barrels with a limited proportion of new oak. They are generally neither fined nor filtered.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir