Domaine Denis Mortet : Clos de Vougeot Grand cru 2021

Tasting Notes and Pairing Advice for Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2021 Domaine Denis Mortet

Tasting

Color

This wine shows a deep garnet robe with violet hues, a hue typical of a grand cru pinot noir born from old vines and carefully limited yields.

Nose

The nose unfolds with ripe black cherry, blackcurrant and red berry aromas, layered with fine spice notes and a hint of forest floor that emerges with aeration.

Palate

The palate opens with a velvety attack before revealing an elegant, well-balanced structure supported by fine, polished tannins. The mid-palate is rich with dark and red fruit, while the finish stretches long and persistent, leaving lingering notes of cherry, blackcurrant and spice along with a subtle earthy touch.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru pairs beautifully with herb-crusted rack of lamb, aged filet of beef, or spiced roasted pigeon. It is equally well suited to aged Comté cheese, and more broadly to noble red meats and firm, aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2021 benefits from decanting ahead of service and is best enjoyed at a temperature of around 16 to 18°C. Thanks to its structure and freshness, this vintage holds strong cellaring potential, allowing the wine to continue developing complexity over time. Bottles should be stored lying down, in a cool, dark place with a constant temperature of around 12 to 15°C and 70 to 80% humidity.

Other characteristics

This wine is dry, with no residual sugar, crafted entirely from pinot noir grapes grown on old vines of around fifty years of age.

A Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Expressing the Depth of Domaine Denis Mortet's Terroir

The Estate

Domaine Denis Mortet is a family-run estate based in Gevrey-Chambertin, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Officially established in 1993 by Denis Mortet, the estate has grown from its original holdings into roughly sixteen hectares spread across nearly a hundred parcels, including several prestigious grand cru sites. Since Denis Mortet's passing in 2006, the estate has been led by his widow, Laurence Mortet, alongside their children Arnaud and Clémence. The domaine is recognized for its meticulous vineyard work, free of synthetic herbicides and fertilizers since 1996, and for pinot noirs that combine depth, concentration and, under Arnaud's guidance, increasing finesse and elegance.

The Vineyard

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from a small plot of approximately 0.32 hectares located in the Montiotes Basses section of the Clos Vougeot, one of Burgundy's largest and most historic grand cru sites. The vines here are around fifty years old, rooted in clay-limestone soils rich in active limestone, which lend structure and tension to the wine. This parcel benefits from the same meticulous approach applied across the estate: reduced tillage, natural cover cropping, and hand-pruning, all aimed at preserving soil vitality and encouraging balanced, concentrated fruit.

The Vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was shaped by contrasting weather conditions throughout the growing season, including challenging moments early on, yet ultimately allowing grapes to reach a fresh, ripe and balanced maturity by harvest. These conditions favored wines with both structure and natural freshness, setting the stage for a vintage with notable aging potential.

Winemaking and aging

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2021 was vinified using a combination of whole-cluster and destemmed grapes, a choice that adds aromatic complexity and a vertical tannic structure while preserving fruit purity. Aging took place in oak barrels, with a measured proportion of new wood, over a period of sixteen to eighteen months, allowing the wine to harmonize its structure while letting the terroir and fruit remain at the forefront.

Grape Varieties

This wine is crafted from 100% pinot noir.