Renowned and respected as one of the finest producers in Burgundy, Bouchard Père et Fils has truly become an institution, known for the exceptional quality of their wines and the diversity of its many vineyards.
The name Vigne de L’Enfants Jésus dates to 1638 when Anne of Austria gave birth to King Louis XIV. It is said that Marguerite du Saint-Sacrement the founding Carmelite of Domestiques de la Famille du Saint Enfant Jesus predicted the birth of the long-awaited heir to the French throne. The Queen, Anne of Austria, was 37 when she gave birth to her first child after four stillbirths. To celebrate this the Camelite order named its most prominent Beaune vineyard – Vigne de L’Enfant Jésus.
The vineyard was under the ownership of the Carmelite order until the French revolution. In 1791, when all national property was sold, Bouchard Père & Fils put in a bid for the vineyard, situated in the heart of the 32 hectares of the Beaune Grèves appellation, of which it still has the monopoly today.
This one of the more floral-suffused wines in the range with its hints of violet, rose petal and lavender that add touch of elegance to the very ripe poached plum scents that presently lack a bit of freshness. There is verve and freshness on the palate of the dense, voluminous and punchy flavours that coat the palate with dry extract that also serves to buffer the firm tannins shaping the powerful, serious and mildly warm finale. Note that my predicted range offers the benefit of the doubt that the nose will recover better freshness.