Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier : Bonnes-Mares Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Bonnes-Mares 2021 Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Tasting

Color

This wine shows a deep red wine hue, dense yet bright, with a clarity that reflects a carefully measured extraction during vinification.

Nose

The bouquet is layered and inviting, opening on red and black berries intertwined with hints of blood orange. Fine spice notes mingle with earthy, undergrowth-like tones, while a subtle smoky, savory nuance adds depth and intrigue to the aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous, built around a deep core of fruit. The tannins are fine and almost powdery, framing a long, savory finish that lingers with remarkable persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Bonnes-Mares pairs beautifully with richly sauced red meats, roasted or braised game, duck, and lamb. It also complements a mushroom risotto or other earthy, forest-inspired dishes, as well as well-aged cheeses that can stand up to its structure and depth.

Serving and cellaring

The estate recommends cellaring this Bonnes-Mares 2021 for at least five to ten years before opening, allowing the wine to fully unfold its aromatic complexity. It is best stored at a steady temperature of around 12 to 15°C and served slightly cooler, between 16 and 18°C, ideally after a brief decanting to let the bouquet open up.

Other characteristics

A dry red wine, this Bonnes-Mares reaches an alcohol content of approximately 13%, reflecting a harvest brought in at full phenolic ripeness without excess.

A Burgundy grand cru poised between Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis

The Estate

Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier was founded in 1863 in Chambolle-Musigny, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Today led by Frédéric Mugnier alongside Jocelyne Mugnier and a close-knit team, the estate farms around fourteen hectares, including parcels in Musigny, Bonnes-Mares, Les Amoureuses, Les Fuées, and the Clos de la Maréchale monopole. Its identity rests on a low-intervention philosophy, long-standing family ownership, and a quiet but widely respected reputation among Burgundy's finest pinot noir producers.

The Vineyard

The Bonnes-Mares plot farmed by the estate is a narrow 36-are strip that runs the full length of the slope, from bottom to top, offering a range of exposures and drainage conditions within a very small area. The vines were planted in three stages, in 1961, 1980, and 1988, and now benefit from full vine maturity. The soil combines paler, limestone-rich ground with redder, iron-tinted clay, reflecting the neighboring influence of Morey-Saint-Denis and giving Bonnes-Mares its distinctive position between two appellations.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes destined for Bonnes-Mares 2021 are harvested by hand and sorted carefully before fermentation, which takes place with indigenous yeasts in open wooden vats, often with a notable share of whole clusters. Gentle punching down and limited pumping over preserve the fruit's finesse, while maceration lasts around three weeks. The wine is then aged for roughly sixteen months in oak barrels, with new wood kept to a modest proportion, before being lightly filtered and bottled with minimal handling.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.