2018 Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur Chemin des Moines de Vergy

Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur is part of a family dynasty in the Cotes de Nuits that goes back to 1830, when Alphonse Gros settled in Vosne-Romanee with his new wife. Many generations later, the estate is now divided among three siblings, Michel, Bernard and Anne Gros. Domaine Gros Frere et Soeur is managed by Bernard and it includes a total of 20.6 acres. There are important parcels in Richebourg, Grands-Echezeaux and Clos Vougeot. Like his siblings, Bernard is known as a consummate viticulturalist. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Bernard’s wines “are among the most extraordinarily exotic, hedonistic wines produced in all of Burgundy….I often wonder what miracles occur in his cellars to produce wines with such incredible bouquets of oranges, raspberries and apricots.”

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.

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.