2011 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays

Domaine des Lambrays in Morey-Saint-Denis, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits, traces its history to vineyards in the 14th century that belonged to an abbey. After the French revolution the property was sold off to private owners. The estate was bought and sold several times in the 20th century, and in the 1980s Thierry Brouin became the winemaker, a step that meant great improvements to the estate and the wines. Today the estate is owned by Bernard Arnault’s Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) luxury group. LVMH bought the estate in 2014 from Ruth Freund, who, with her late husband Gunter, were Chevaliers du Tastevin, making them members of Burgundy's most prestigious organization of wine enthusiasts. Domaine des Lambrays owns 27 acres, including 21 acres in Clos des Lambrays, a grand cru monopole. The Clos des Lambrays was promoted from Premier Cru to Grand Cru in 1981, and is also notable because it is one of the largest Grand Cru monopoles in Burgundy. The domaine also has a red Premier Cru parcel in Morey-Saint-James and white Premier Crus in Puligny-Montrachet.

Clos des Lambrays has a highly unusual story. The Morey St.-Denis vineyard was not elevated to Grand Cru status until 1981. The 22.1-acre vineyard had been a renowned Premier Cru in the 1930s and 1940s, but fell into disrepair a few decades later. Most of the vineyard was sold in the late 1970s to the Saier brothers, who replanted the vineyards. Today Domaine des Lambrays, owned by Gunther Freund and his wife, controls 21.65 acres of the vineyard. Jean Taupenot-Merme owns the remaining tiny parcel. The vineyard is the highest of all the Morey St.-Denis Grand Crus and it faces north and east. Clive Coates has noted that “the Freunds…have been unstinting in attention to detail to promote the quality of the wine.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.

Monopole