Méo-Camuzet : Vosne-Romanée 1er cru "Cros Parantoux" Domaine 2023

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Cros Parantoux" 2023 from Méo-Camuzet

Tasting

Nose

The nose of this 2023 vintage shows a touch of reserve in its youth, leaning toward more tertiary expression than the preceding 2022 vintage. This restraint is typical of the climat in its early years, hinting at the deeper layers of complexity that will unfold with time in the cellar.

Palate

The palate is medium-bodied, built around supple, pliant tannins and a remarkably well-balanced, symmetrical structure. True to the character of Cros Parantoux, the entry is generous and rounded, while the finish retains the lively tension and mineral edge characteristic of this terroir. While it may not reach the ineffable intensity of the climat's greatest vintages, this 2023 offers a more immediately approachable expression of the appellation.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine pairs well with simply prepared meats served without heavy sauces, such as roasted or grilled poultry, veal, or lamb. It also complements flavorful fish like tuna, as well as fine charcuterie, allowing its freshness and mineral character to shine through.

Serving and cellaring

The Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Cros Parantoux" 2023 is best served at a temperature between 16 and 18°C (61–64°F). As with most Burgundy reds, full decanting is not required, but a bit of aeration is recommended: opening the bottle about two hours before serving and pouring a small glass back into the bottle helps open up the aromatics. According to critic Neal Martin's estimate, this wine should offer an enjoyable drinking window from 2028 to 2048 approximately.

Other characteristics

This wine shows an alcohol content of approximately 13 to 13.4%, in keeping with a classic, elegant style of Vosne-Romanée pinot noir rather than an overtly powerful one. It is bottled at the estate by gravity flow, without fining or filtration, preserving the natural clarity and integrity of the wine.

A Structured, Mineral-Driven Red Wine from Vosne-Romanée

The Estate

Domaine Méo-Camuzet is located at 11, rue des Grands Crus in Vosne-Romanée, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. The estate took its current name in 1981, when Domaine Camuzet became Méo-Camuzet, with the first vintage released under this name in 1983. Today it is owned by the Méo family and led by Jean-Nicolas Méo, who has directed the property since 1989. The domaine is known for hand-harvesting, meticulous sorting, and gentle, low-intervention winemaking across its 18.1 hectares of vines.

The Vineyard

This wine comes from the Cros Parantoux climat, a premier cru of Vosne-Romanée exploited by Méo-Camuzet on a small parcel of about 30 ares. The vines were planted in the 1950s on a steep, east-facing slope with shallow, stony soil in a notably cool microclimate, which results in later ripening and pronounced natural acidity.

The Vintage

The 2023 growing season was marked by sun and drought from June onward, yet the vines showed no signs of stress. Harvest began in the final days of August, yielding grapes that were ripe, homogeneous, and in near-perfect health. The Cros Parantoux parcel itself was picked early in the morning on September 9.

Winemaking and Aging

As with all cuvées at the domaine, the grapes for the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Cros Parantoux" 2023 were harvested entirely by hand and carefully sorted before a cold maceration of three to five days at around 15°C. Fermentation temperatures were closely monitored to avoid exceeding 34–35°C, preserving freshness and finesse. The wine was then aged for approximately 17 months in oak barrels, with a significant proportion of new wood, before being bottled at the estate by gravity, without fining or filtration.

Grape Variety

This wine is made from 100% pinot noir.