Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune Premier Cru "Clos de la Mousse" 2020 - 375 mL -
(Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France) - [WE 94] [WS 94] [DM 92] [JS 92] [BH 90-92] [WA 90-92] [JM 90-92]
Regular price $75.00 Sale price $49.97 Save $25.03
/
About the Winery:
The Burgundian wine domaine of Bouchard Pére et Fils can trace its origins back to 1731, when it began to sell wine during the first half of the 18th century. In 1775 the House acquired its first vineyards in Volnay, where the company was based at the time. In 1791 the French revolutionary government sold off property, which had belonged to the monastic orders, but were confiscated during the Revolution. It was at this time that Bouchard Père & Fils was able to purchase additional vineyards in Beaune, such as the prestigious Vigne de l'enfant Jesus. In 1820 Bouchard Père & Fils moved to the former Château Royal de Beaune, whose bastions and ramparts, with walls measuring 23 feet in thickness, offered the best possible wine-aging conditions for their great wines.
In 1995 the Champagne house, Joseph Henriot, acquired the company and quality has risen as a consequence. Today Bouchard is led by Stéphane Follin Arbelet while the wines are made by Philippe Prost, who has been with the company since 1978. An impressive gravity-flow winery on the Route de Savigny, the Cuvérie St Vincent, was completed in 2005, enabling them to process all their wines with optimum efficiency. Bouchard's total holdings comprise 130 hectares, including 12ha of Grand Crus and 74ha of Premier Crus, which makes them the largest vineyard owners in the Côte d'Or (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune).
About this wine:
The history of Clos de la Mousse dates to 1220; this Premier Cru has been a monopole wholly-owned by Bouchard Père & Fils since 1872. This 100% Pinot Noir is aged for 13 months in 30% new oak. Fruit aromas combined with light toasty notes on the nose. Both fleshy and refined, Clos de la Mousse reveals its charms with delicacy.
"Fresh on the nose with intense earthiness, bright cherries are mulled with wild strawberries and pulverized black pepper. The palate is balanced with good texture and acidity, enhancing deep black cherry and raspberries. It finishes remarkably well, with good minerality and essence of dark clove." - AC (Nov 2023)
94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This vibrant, supple red is enticing for its violet, black cherry and licorice flavors, accented by sweet spices. Develops gracefully on the palate, ending in a cascade of fruit and spice notes. Best from 2025 through 2042." - BS (Feb 2023)
92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"This 3.3ha monopole is on a fairly cool site with deep clay soils on an east-southeast facing terrace that is fairly flat. The grapes are given a cold soak before fermenting with a proportion of whole clusters and ageing in cask (one-third new). The result has an approachable cherry fruit with floral nuance on the nose and a texture that is silky, subtle, soft, and very pleasant." - CC (Nov 2021)
92 Points - James Suckling:
"The wide spectrum of black berries with notes of candied orange and clove pull you into this rich and fleshy Beaune 1er Cru. However, there's a firm tannic core beneath all this and the powdery tannins at the long finish provide clear contours. Slight salinity there. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." (Sep 2022)
90-92 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"Pretty and cool yet definitely ripe aromas reveal notes of various dark berries, violet and rose petal. The suave and seductively textured medium weight flavors possess very fine density while the youthfully austere and moderately firm finish makes clear that this will need at least a few years of bottle aging first." (Apr 2022)
90-92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Aromas of cherries, cassis, licorice and rose petals introduce Bouchard's 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse, a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that's lively and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit and a long, perfumed finish." - William Kelley (Jan 2022)
90-92 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Like the Savigny Lavières, Clos de la Mousse is another spot with cooler clays. Very dense purple. Some plums on the nose, a little rounder, with good acidity behind, more red fruit notes emerge beneath. This shows considerable promise." (Nov 2021)
The Burgundian wine domaine of Bouchard Pére et Fils can trace its origins back to 1731, when it began to sell wine during the first half of the 18th century. In 1775 the House acquired its first vineyards in Volnay, where the company was based at the time. In 1791 the French revolutionary government sold off property, which had belonged to the monastic orders, but were confiscated during the Revolution. It was at this time that Bouchard Père & Fils was able to purchase additional vineyards in Beaune, such as the prestigious Vigne de l'enfant Jesus. In 1820 Bouchard Père & Fils moved to the former Château Royal de Beaune, whose bastions and ramparts, with walls measuring 23 feet in thickness, offered the best possible wine-aging conditions for their great wines.
In 1995 the Champagne house, Joseph Henriot, acquired the company and quality has risen as a consequence. Today Bouchard is led by Stéphane Follin Arbelet while the wines are made by Philippe Prost, who has been with the company since 1978. An impressive gravity-flow winery on the Route de Savigny, the Cuvérie St Vincent, was completed in 2005, enabling them to process all their wines with optimum efficiency. Bouchard's total holdings comprise 130 hectares, including 12ha of Grand Crus and 74ha of Premier Crus, which makes them the largest vineyard owners in the Côte d'Or (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune).
About this wine:
The history of Clos de la Mousse dates to 1220; this Premier Cru has been a monopole wholly-owned by Bouchard Père & Fils since 1872. This 100% Pinot Noir is aged for 13 months in 30% new oak. Fruit aromas combined with light toasty notes on the nose. Both fleshy and refined, Clos de la Mousse reveals its charms with delicacy.
Ratings & Reviews
94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:"Fresh on the nose with intense earthiness, bright cherries are mulled with wild strawberries and pulverized black pepper. The palate is balanced with good texture and acidity, enhancing deep black cherry and raspberries. It finishes remarkably well, with good minerality and essence of dark clove." - AC (Nov 2023)
94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This vibrant, supple red is enticing for its violet, black cherry and licorice flavors, accented by sweet spices. Develops gracefully on the palate, ending in a cascade of fruit and spice notes. Best from 2025 through 2042." - BS (Feb 2023)
92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"This 3.3ha monopole is on a fairly cool site with deep clay soils on an east-southeast facing terrace that is fairly flat. The grapes are given a cold soak before fermenting with a proportion of whole clusters and ageing in cask (one-third new). The result has an approachable cherry fruit with floral nuance on the nose and a texture that is silky, subtle, soft, and very pleasant." - CC (Nov 2021)
92 Points - James Suckling:
"The wide spectrum of black berries with notes of candied orange and clove pull you into this rich and fleshy Beaune 1er Cru. However, there's a firm tannic core beneath all this and the powdery tannins at the long finish provide clear contours. Slight salinity there. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." (Sep 2022)
90-92 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"Pretty and cool yet definitely ripe aromas reveal notes of various dark berries, violet and rose petal. The suave and seductively textured medium weight flavors possess very fine density while the youthfully austere and moderately firm finish makes clear that this will need at least a few years of bottle aging first." (Apr 2022)
90-92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Aromas of cherries, cassis, licorice and rose petals introduce Bouchard's 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse, a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that's lively and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit and a long, perfumed finish." - William Kelley (Jan 2022)
90-92 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Like the Savigny Lavières, Clos de la Mousse is another spot with cooler clays. Very dense purple. Some plums on the nose, a little rounder, with good acidity behind, more red fruit notes emerge beneath. This shows considerable promise." (Nov 2021)