2014 Domaine Georges Mugneret (Mugneret-Gibourg) Bourgogne

Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg in Vosne-Romanee, in Burgundy’s Cote-de-Nuits, has a history that sounds like a fairy tale with a happy ending. Founded in 1933 by the young married couple Andre Mugneret and Jeanne Gibourg, they passed it on to their only son, Georges Mugneret, who gave up his career as an ophthalmologist to run the domaine. He became one of Burgundy’s most respected winemakers and ambassadors. When he died in 1988 his wife Jacqueline and their two daughters, Marie-Christine and Marie-Andree, took over the business. Today the daughters and their mother run the 22.5-acre estate with help from Marie-Christine’s daughter Lucie, who in 2018 joined the management team. Lucie has another sister and two first cousins, both women, so there is every possibility that the estate will someday be passed on to another generation of female vignerons. The domaine includes Grand Cru parcels in Ruchottes-Chambertin, Clos Vougeot and Echezeaux. There are also Premier Cru parcels in Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-St.-Georges. Clive Coates notes that “these wines are fullish, concentrated, very stylish and extremely well-balanced…This is a fine domaine.”

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.