Jean-Jacques Confuron Clos Vougeot 2018

Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron's Clos de Vougeot occupies one of the finest positions within this famously variable grand cru. The grapes come from a 0.5-hectare plot of vines planted in 1962, situated in the upper part of the vineyard behind the château — brown, calcareous soil rich in clay and alluvium, the most prized zone of the 50-hectare Clos. The wine is aged in barrels for 15 to 18 months with 80% new oak, with average production of just 2,000 bottles per year. The domaine has farmed organically since Alain and Sophie Meunier took over in 1988, and the meticulous, low-intervention approach applied across the estate's twelve appellations finds its fullest expression here, in the wine that represents the pinnacle of what this small but exceptional domaine can do. 

Clos Vougeot opens with a very distinctive nose reminiscent of red roses, raspberry and nutmeg — an elegant, smooth and complex attack with notes of red fruits, red berries and red cedar, the ripe tannins balanced by great acidity giving the wine real structure, finishing long and very fresh. A complex nose with fruity aromas and intense peony notes; the palate features plenty of richness, good acidity and a silky body — a wine that will require seven to twelve years of ageing before it reaches its peak. Maturation in French oak adds layers of vanilla, cedar and subtle toast, the palate full and powerful with firm but refined tannins and a perfect balance between fruity intensity and fresh acidity, the long finish offering a beautiful harmony of fruit, spice and mineral notes.