Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier : Bonnes-Mares Grand cru 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2023 Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Tasting

Color
Although no specific record describes the color of this particular vintage, Bonnes-Mares from Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier is traditionally recognized for its deep, sustained red hue, consistent with recent vintages from this grand cru.

Nose
The nose opens on dark berry fruit, notably blueberry and blackberry, combined with notes of sweet plum. Orange zest, exotic spices and floral petals add further nuance, while a subtle touch of new oak lends a discreet layer of complexity in the background.

Palate
Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a pillowy fruit core supported by fine, almost powdery tannins. The texture is generous and fleshy, leading into a long finish marked by saline and mineral notes that bring tension and freshness to the wine.

Food and wine pairings
This Bonnes-Mares pairs beautifully with white meats in cream and mushroom sauces, such as poultry with a morel cream reduction. It is equally well suited to roasted game birds or dishes built around earthy, woodland flavors.

Serving and cellaring
The Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2023 is best served between 61 and 64°F, ideally after a light decanting to allow its aromas to unfold. The estate recommends a minimum aging period of 5 to 10 years before enjoying this wine at its fullest potential.

Other characteristics
This is a dry red wine, vinified entirely in pinot noir, with an alcohol content situated in a moderate and balanced range typical of the domaine's style for this vintage.

A Burgundy grand cru shaped by the meeting of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis

The Estate
Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier was founded in 1863 by Frédéric Mugnier, a liqueur merchant from Dijon, in Burgundy. After decades of leasing out its vines, the estate was directly taken over in 1978 by Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, before his son Frédéric Mugnier assumed full responsibility in 1985. Today, Frédéric Mugnier runs the property from the Château de Chambolle-Musigny, overseeing roughly 15 hectares that include the historic Clos de la Maréchale monopole and a tiny parcel of Bonnes-Mares.

The Vineyard
The Bonnes-Mares parcel farmed by the estate is a narrow strip of just 0.36 hectare, stretching along the upper part of the slope between Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. The vines were planted in three stages, in 1961, 1980 and 1988, on shallow, well-drained soils where limestone is never far from the surface. This elevated position, combined with lean, stony ground, gives the fruit a particular tension while drawing character from both neighboring appellations.

The Vintage
The 2023 growing season was described by Frédéric Mugnier himself as complicated. Until July, conditions closely resembled those of 2022, dry and warm, before heavy summer rains caused the berries to swell and pushed yields upward. Harvest began on September 7, with sorting carried out directly in the vineyard by the pickers rather than on a sorting table.

Winemaking and Aging
To offset the dilution brought on by the summer rains, a bleeding of the vats was carried out on most of the estate's wines, including the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2023, in order to concentrate the must. The grapes are fully destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in open wooden vats for 15 to 20 days. The wine is then aged for 18 months in barrels, only around 15 % of which are new, before spending a further three months in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling. Malolactic fermentation was completed quickly, before winter set in.

Grape Variety
This wine is produced from 100 % pinot noir.