Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny "Vieilles Vignes" Grand Cru 2020
(Burgundy, France) - [DM 99] [BH 95-98] [JM 94-98] [VM 93-95]

About the Domaine:
Many domaines in Burgundy can trace their roots back over 100 years, but only a handful can claim more than 200 years of history, let alone 550 years. Highly regarded as the greatest estate in Chambolle Musigny, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé is now headed by its 20th generation – Claire de Causans and Marie de Ladoucette, the granddaughters of the late Comte Georges de Vogüé. The estate's longstanding employees have also contributed to the brand's outstanding quality vintage after vintage with François Millet as Winemaker since 1986, Jean-Luc Pépin as Sales Manager since 1988 and Eric Bourgogne as Vineyard Manager since 1996.

Winemaking:
Winemaker François Millet follows an approach that blends tradition with modernity. To achieve this, he keeps both vineyard and vintage conditions a top priority in all decision making. Grapes are typically destemmed followed by native yeast fermentation in large wooden vats. Millet prefers a slow start to fermentation with no cold soak to keep intervention to a minimum. In general, village wines are aged in 15% new French oak barrels, while grand cru wines see no more than 35% new oak to emphasize the earth and fruit flavors instead of spicy wood aromas. Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Very little sulfur is added during fermentation or at bottling.

About the Wine:
This estate’s top selection of older vines (40 years and older) go into its signature cru, of which less than 1,000 cases each vintage are made. A wine that will age for 30 years or more with grace.

Ratings & Reviews

99 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"The mature vines in the domaine’s immense holding (5.56ha of old vines) have given us a wine with the youthful, plummy exuberance of Chambolle but with added precision and depth, revealing saline mineral notes, plus hints of flowers and spice. On the palate, the silky texture initially beguiles, and with time the firm structure and long finish become evident. Ageing in 35% new casks helps the wine retain an admirable purity of fruit. The 2020 vintage was the last vinified by François Millet, who took his retirement at a high point in his career. (Drink between 2025-2060)" - Charles Curtis (Nov. 2021)

95-98 Points - Allen Meadows' Burghound:
"As is often the case, this is aromatically similar to the Chambolle 1er but it's less expressive and perhaps more densely fruited. There is notably better mid-palate concentration to the substantially sized big-bodied flavors that also possess a positively gorgeous mouthfeel while exuding an abundance of mineral character on the hugely long and impeccably well-balanced and youthfully austere finale. This Zen-like effort is superb and a wine that should also age gracefully over the next two decades. (Drink starting 2040)" (Jan 2022)

94-98 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Black colour with a purple rim. The fresh mulberry nose is reminiscent of the initial Chambolle wine, on the cusp of being too flamboyant. Behind this though I can find the quintessential intensity of Musigny, which becomes notably fresher at the back. This will work. You could spread the fruit with a knife, but everything is so intense that there is less detail than is usual at this stage. There may yet prove to be further upside to this wine." (Nov 2021)

93-95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2020 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, which is departing winemaker François Millet’s final vintage, has a fragrant nose of mainly red fruit, redcurrant and wild strawberry, intermixed with light cassis, violet and peony scents. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, taut and fresh, quite saline with a lot of structure on the finish. This was taken from a 2017 barrel but the final blend will have 35% new oak. This is a very fine Musigny and yet I am convinced that it does not reach full potential. (Drink by 2055)" - Neal Martin (Dec 2021)