Joseph Drouhin Clos de Vougeot 1996

In the Cote de Nuits, nestled between Vosne-Romanee and Chambolle-Musigny, lie the Clos de Vougeot vineyard and its Chateau. Famous all over the world, it is a true masterpiece of Burgundy. The beautiful Chateau in the middle of the vineyards was built by the monks of the Coteaux abbey in the latter part of the 12th Century. It is now the headquarters of the "Confrere des Chevaliers du Tastevin" (the well-known wine society) and the setting for its prestigious banquets. The vineyard is situated on a gentle slope facing directly East. The soil is a mix of limestone with varying amounts of clay. The closest neighbor is Musigny on one side, and Grands-Echezeaux on the other. The only grape variety is Pinot Noir. Joseph Drouhin owns several parcels in this prestigious Grand Cru. At harvest time, the grapes are picked by hand in small crates and then brought to the winery in Beaune. Fermentation and maceration are traditional: the grapes ferment in open wooden vats with the cap being regularly punched down and the juice pumped over. After 18 months of ageing in oak barrels, the wine is fined with egg-whites prior to bottling. Clos de Vougeot has a deep red colour. Aromas are reminiscent of raspberry and wild cherry. With time, the nose changes to more complex flavours such as stewed fruit and truffles. Well-balanced, distinctive and elegant, Clos de Vougeot has a good structure with refined tannins. It also has very good ageing potential, 10 to 20 years depending on the quality of the vintage.