Domaine Laurent Roumier Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2023

Laurent Roumier is the grandson of the legendary Georges Roumier and his holdings originate from that grand old estate with more recent additions of 6 hectares in the Hautes Cotes de Nuits being purchased in the 1990s and further purchases in Chambolle Musigny.

His father Alain was the cellar master for Comte de Vogue for nearly 3 decades before taking his portion of the family vineyards to farm for his own family. The cellars are next door to Georges Roumier at the back of the village in the rue de Vergy (otherwise known as the 'rue des Roumiers').

Wines here appear stylistically very similar to those of Georges with even the same barrels and oak used as his cousins though one notable difference is that Laurent totally de-stems giving wines that are more immediately perfumed and accessible in their youth while still having ample depth and structure to age classically.

From a superb holding of just over half a hectare of vines which was replanted in 1975 and is located in the lieu dit of Grand Maupertuis in the higher part of Clos Vougeot bordering on to Grands Echezeaux not far from Musigny. This parcel was worked en metayage by Georges Roumier from the 1950s and was transferred to Laurent Roumier from the 1997 vintage. (Laurent Roumier also owns two other small parcels in the lower part of Clos Vougeot in the lieu-dit of Baudes Basses which is sold off to other producers.)

This is a remarkably rich deep and stylish wine that would put some notable Musignys to shame. Deeply perfumed with vibrant dark fruit and with wonderfully fine tannins. 50 % new Rousseau barrels used and aged for up to 18 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. This is a stunning Grand cru of real freshness and vigour that simply should not be missed. This wine show just how great this large Grand Cru site can be and how spectacularly good wines from the higher parts of the vineyard can be.