Terroir untouched... This release is not only made organically grown but not a drop of sulphur is added into these cuvees. The Nature range by Domaine Rougeot is naturally balanced in ways so few Burgundy wines can achieve. The 2022 vintage is once again expressing itself in a unique and powerful manner and I cannot wait to get these bottles out to you.
For those not yet versed in the diagonal labels of my family's domaine please allow me to divulge a few details. While my father and brother enjoy producing an incredible line up of traditional Burgundy wines from Meursault to Volnay, the eagerness to push further has always been there. For several years now they have taken the care to find a percentage of their production that perfectly stabilises itself in barrel and then opting to bottle it with no added sulphur. This takes dedication beyond the average vigneron as each barrel during maturation is smelt and tasted every week to follow the evolution closely. It’s a very demanding process, which is highly rewarding in the glass.
I have secured 11 cuvees this year for you to traipse the vineyards with your palate. From the vines near home, we have the Bourgogne cuvees of "Clos des Six Ouvrees", "Grandes Gouttes" and "La Monatine" which each interpret the soils with vibrancy, acidity and a mouth-filling style. Of course we also have the coveted Les Plumes available as well to showcase the well-loved Aligoté vines with tons of energy in the glass. For our red Bourgognes, I could not pick so I chose them all! I have the Passetoutgrain blend full of explosive berries and excellent acidity, the classic Les Vaux offering enviable freshness and a strong finish, and to conclude the Les Lameroses of fine precision and beautiful texture perfect for any palate.
But enough about the regional offerings, let me take it up a tier. By now I am sure you are well versed in the Meursault "Sous la Velle" vineyard, with the Rougeot's representation being one of inviting and vibrant aromatics full of citrus fruit. Similarly the Saint-Romain "Combe Bazin" is a stunning wine with a backbone of acidity to cut through the generous fruit. Both are beautiful Chardonnays outperforming so many other village cuvees, leading to the fine Premier Crus of the range. Meursault 1er Cru "Charmes" is dynamic, impressive and rounds out with a superb finish. For the Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" it is more quietly impressive, with a lovely undertone to carry through and offer enjoyment through the whole glass.
I could go on and on about how lovely these wines are but they do speak for themselves in the glass. Please enjoy our selection below.
TASTING NOTES
Bourgogne Aligoté "Les Plumes" Nature 2022
One new barrel out of 15 barrel, before racking. Mid lemon. Natural nose with a nutty note. Very typical of the grape on the palate with extra energy compared to most practitioners. Ripe citrus, fresh apple, excellent length. 87-89 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy.
Bourgogne Chardonnay "Grandes Gouttes" Nature 2022
Pretty mid lemon colour. The first nose is faintly oxidative, but not the wine underneath. Very fresh apples on the palate, though feeling ripe, and good enough acidity in this cuvée. Excellent body, very promising for the future. Drink from 2024-2027. 88-90 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy.
Bourgogne Chardonnay "La Monatine" Nature 2022
Near Sous la Velle. A fuller, richer, nose – plenty of ripe yellow citrus – but fresh too. Extra mouth-filling and much more generous in style – I prefer the last but here’s a great full-flavoured wine! Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.
Bourgogne Chardonnay "Clos des Six Ouvrées" Nature 2022
Despite the middle of the village placement, this is not far from Chevaliers – usually the last harvested of the chardonnays here. Bottling maybe in March. A deeper nose, still citrus and very vibrant – almost the backyard of the domaine near Meursault Les Chevaliers. Much more open – and architectural. Delicious finishing precisions of citrus – certainly already excellent Bourgogne – maybe great! Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.
Bourgogne PTG "Vercherres" Nature 2023
A 50/50 blend of pinot and gamay vinified together in one big wooden tank, in bottle since April with no sulphur additions. Medium crimson purple. Gorgeously explosive, with an exciting dark raspberry and peony character and excellent acidity - to taste but not at all by analysis. Very clean. 88 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Bourgogne "Les Vaux" Nature 2022
More chalky soil here, the vines are practically behind the cuverie of Coche-Dury. A more meaty and saline nose – some destemming here – 30% – ‘a wine that always needs 18 months of aging.’ Mouth-filling with enviable freshness and energy again – meaty style to the fruit once more – good wine. Strong finishing… Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.
Bourgogne "Les Lameroses" Nature 2022
Mid purple colour. A more explosive nose with a little meatiness. 95% whole bunch vinification. Super energy with vivid flying raspberries, a good perception of acidity, with gentle medium length finish. Pierre-Henri will probably bottle this without sulphur. 88-89 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy.
A more aromatic nose – it’s all whole cluster but the perfume of whole cluster. Beautiful texture, fine precision too. That’s a very lovely wine… Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.
Meursault “Sous la Velle” Nature 2022
Biggest parcel of the domaine with 2.2 ha, in 4 plots. 45-65-yo vines. On one part plenty of clay here that holds on well to water another part more limestone. All these aromatics are so vibrant and inviting – it’s just differences in the generosity and ripeness of the citrus fruit – here generous and ripe! Direct and beautifully textured – this slightly sweet flavour resonates for so long over the palate and into the finish. Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.
Saint-Romain "Combe Bazin" Nature 2022
Picked earlier but riper, old vines, 42 hl/ha from 85 year old vines. A lovely pale lemon colour. The nose shows a little bit of the wood and also the open style of unsulphured wine, but barely oxidative. Stunning wine! Enough acidity to back up the generous fruit, with a fabulous long finish. Drink from 2025-2028. 90-93 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy.
Meursault 1er Cru "Charmes" Nature 2022
Fine lemon yellow with a green tint. The first impression is of a typical sulphur free nose, and Pierre-Henri may do a couple of barrels without any addition. Really delicious once get over the no sulphur, swirling the glass freshens it up. Dynamic, very good acidity in this cuvée, an impressive volume of fruit throughout, various different apples, very long. Superb finish. Hovering on a fifth star. Drink from 2028-2034. 93-96 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy.
Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" Nature 2021
Just below the Clos des Santenots in Santenots Dessous. A broad nose of darker fruit and salinity. A more direct than melting style of flavour vs the width of the previous Pommard. Middle and finishing density to this flavour that needs to open out – but all quietly impressive! Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report.