1999 Bouchard Pere et Fils La Romanee

This Beaune-based domaine is one of the largest and most venerable in Burgundy. It was founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard as a textile sales and distribution company. But twenty years later Michel’s son Joseph acquired vineyards in Volnay in the famous Les Caillerets climat and started producing wine. Over the centuries the family continued to acquire exceptional vineyards throughout the Côte d’Or. For nine generations the Bouchard family ran the estate, creating notable wines, and ran their own negociant business. In 1986 the Bouchards built a new state-of-the-art facility and in 1995 they sold the estate to the French Champagne house Joseph Henriot. With more than 300 acres of vineyards in various parts of Burgundy, Bouchard Pere et Fils produces Grand Crus, Premiers Crus and other wines. It makes red and white Burgundies and is especially well-known for Grand Cru Chardonnays.

La Romanee is the smallest Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy at just 2.5 acres. It is a monopoly wholly owned by the Liger-Belair family, now doing business as Domaine du Vicomte Liger-Belair, Chateau de Vosne-Romanee. Until 2005 Bouchard Pere et Fils was responsible for the elevage and marketing of the pinot noir from this vineyard, but that relationship ended Louis-Michael Liger-Belair completed his education and moved back to the family estate. La Romanee is directly up the slope from Romanee-Conti, the most celebrated vineyard in France, and La Romanee’s elevation ranges from 275 to 300 meters.

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.