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92-94 WA.
"The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, which comes from the top of the clos and sees 50% new oak, has a very pure, quite floral bouquet with hints of dried rose petal infusing the redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit. The palate is ripe and sweet on the entry and although the wood is tangible, it is singing from the same hymn sheet as the fruit. With fine delineation and focus, plus impressive length, this is one of Michel’s finest Clos de Vougeot. It is always a pleasure to see Michel Gros, with his bushy moustache and face that always reminds me of Bruce Forsythe had the TV star become a winemaker in Vosne-Romanee . . . . 'In the end the crop was 25% down, about 30hl/ha due to the poor flowering and coulure.' The harvest started on 21 September and finished on 3 October in the Hautes Cotes. As usual, Michel practices a warm fermentation that reached 35 degrees during maceration. “C’etait un vinification facile,” he tells me. I always enjoy Michel’s wine and I agree with the point made in Remington Norman/Charles Taylor MW 'The Great Domaines of Burgundy' that stylistically they sit comfortably between the pure, elegant style off Anne Gros and the richer, burlier style of Bernard Gros. His 2012s really hit their stride when we get to Vosne-Romanee, including his monopole Clos des Reas and like Anne, Michel has overseen an exquisite Clos de Vougeot this year. Overall, I found much more to savor in these nascent wines . . . and given their reasonable price tags, come recommended." eRobertParker.com #210, Dec 2013 |