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Wine Description
The Story
Is this a wine which expresses the Cistercian rigour which gave birth to it? No, its image is rather that of a refined gentleman: the grapes mature early here, but still give wines of great finesse, with a lace-like texture which lines the palate, and superb length.
Clos de Vougeot is a wine which is always mature, and its texture will always show finesse. Its vinification will aim for more extraction than average (by breaking up the cap, for example) in order to obtain a little more length.
The work of the roots is immense, as they must go very deep to find what they need. How far down do they go, the vines planted in 1920, which represent about one third of the vineyard plot? Another third have reached adulthood, as the vines were planted in the 1960's, the rest being 20 to 30 years old.
We are lucky to be situated at the top of the appellation, at the foot of the château. These vines see more visitors than any others in the Clos! The soil of this vast plot - nearly 3 hectares (7.5 acres), in one piece, has a well-balanced structure, but is not very deep, with only 40cms (16 inches) of topsoil; here the roots must work their way down through the cracks in the rocks.
The Clos de Vougeot in the heart of the Côte de Nuits occupies most of the vineyard area belonging to the commune of Vougeot. Vougeot's neighbours are Chambolle-Musigny, Flagey-Échezeaux and Vosne-Romanée. On the slopes at the upper end of the Clos, it abuts on the vineyards of Musigny and Grands-Échezeaux.
Founded around 1110 AD by the monks of nearby Cîteaux, who remained its owners until the Revolution of 1789, the Clos de Vougeot is a Burgundian icon. Its 50.59 hectares have never been broken up and it retains its identity intact within the walls which were built to enclose it 5 centuries ago. Its wines are among the finest of the Grand Cru reds and it has held Grand Cru status since 31 July 1937.
The château, (which adjoins the cellars and the winery with its giant presses dating back to the 12th and 14th centuries), is built in the Burgundian Renaissance style and is open to visitors. The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin holds its meetings or « chapters » here and therefore it is no surprise that the finest food and wine in France is found here.
The diversity of soils within the Clos de Vougeot makes up a sort of needle-point tapestry. At about 255 metres above sea-level, its upper end is gently sloping, with soil only some 40 cm deep, coarse-grained and gravelly over a limestone base. In the centre, at about 250 metres of altitude, the soil is still shallow (45 cm), brown, more clayey, overlying broken limestone. The lower portion (around 240 metres) has a brown soil which is deeper (90 cm) and lies on a layer of marl, rich in clay and alluvium. The rocks belong to the Jurassic period (175 million years BC).
« Here's presence ! » exclaims Hugh Johnson's Wine Guide. Nowadays the vineyard is divided among numerous owners and for this reason no single description can be applied to the reds wines. There are, however, common features : very intense colour ranging from strawberry red to deep garnet ; a suave bouquet, redolent of springtime of blown roses at dawn, of violets in the morning dew, of moist mignonette... Add to these blackberry, raspberry, wild mint, liquorice and truffle... On the palate, the taste is masterful, rich, succulent and mellow, combining elegance and delicacy with meaty fullness. A long finish in the mouth and long aging potential (anything from 10 to 30 years and sometimes even more).
This mouth-filling and noble wine demands to be matched with food that is equally as rich, smooth, opulent, and complex. The emphasis therefore will normally be on musky and marbled meats: forerib of beef, braised lamb, roast veal with mushrooms or a nice game-bird (in sauce or simply roasted). The meat must not be too firm, thus allowing the tannins of the Clos de Vougeot to envelop it without being over-dominant.
Cheeses: preferably soft-centred cheeses such as Époisses, Langres, Soumaintrain, Saint-Florentin, and not forgetting Cîteaux, whose monks first established this famous vineyard.
Serving temperatures: 12 to 13 °C for young wines, 15 to 16 °C for older wines.
Vintage 2000
The 2000 vintage in Burgundy, France, is generally considered a very good to excellent vintage for both red and white wines. It was a year marked by favorable weather conditions, which allowed grapes to ripen well and produced wines with good structure and aging potential. Here are some key characteristics of the Burgundy wine vintage 2000:
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Quality: The 2000 vintage is highly regarded in Burgundy and is often praised for its overall quality. It is considered one of the standout vintages of the early 21st century.
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Weather Conditions: The weather in 2000 was characterized by a warm and dry growing season, which was particularly beneficial for grape ripening. This allowed for optimal maturity and concentration of flavors.
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Red Burgundy: Pinot Noir is the primary grape variety for red Burgundy wines, and in 2000, it produced wines with ripe fruit flavors, balanced acidity, and good tannin structure. These wines are known for their elegance and finesse.
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White Burgundy: Chardonnay is the dominant grape for white Burgundy wines, and in 2000, it yielded wines with good acidity, freshness, and a balance of citrus and mineral notes. White Burgundies from this vintage have aging potential.
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Aging Potential: Both red and white Burgundies from the 2000 vintage have shown good aging potential. Many of these wines have evolved gracefully and can still be enjoyable today.
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Availability: While some of the top Grand Cru and Premier Cru Burgundies from 2000 may be scarce and expensive, there are still excellent village-level and lesser-known producers' wines available that offer value and quality.
Overall, the Burgundy wine vintage 2000 is remembered for producing wines that showcase the elegance and terroir-driven character for which Burgundy is known. It remains a sought-after vintage among wine enthusiasts and collectors.
Here are some of the top Burgundy wines from the 2000 vintage, though availability may vary:
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Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC): DRC is one of the most prestigious producers in Burgundy, and their wines, including Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, are highly sought after and regarded as some of the best in the world. The 2000 vintage from DRC is exceptional.
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Domaine Leroy: Leroy is another renowned producer known for producing exceptional Burgundy wines. Their 2000 vintage wines, particularly those from vineyards like Richebourg and Romanée-Saint-Vivant, are highly regarded.
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Domaine Armand Rousseau: This producer consistently creates outstanding wines, and their 2000 vintage Clos de la Roche and Chambertin are among the top choices.
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Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé: Their Musigny wines from the 2000 vintage are often praised for their elegance and complexity.
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Domaine Georges Roumier: The 2000 Bonnes-Mares from Georges Roumier is highly regarded for its concentration and structure.
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Domaine Dujac: Dujac's wines from the 2000 vintage, including Clos de la Roche and Clos Saint-Denis, are known for their finesse and balance.
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Maison Louis Jadot: Jadot produces a range of Burgundy wines, and their 2000 vintage offerings, particularly from the top Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards, are worth exploring.
Remember that the availability of these wines may be limited, and prices can vary significantly depending on the producer, vineyard, and current market conditions. It's advisable to consult with wine specialists, retailers, or collectors to find specific bottles and recommendations based on your preferences and budget. Additionally, personal taste plays a significant role in wine appreciation, so what is considered the "best" can vary from person to person.
