2013 Domaine Jean Chauvenet, Vosne-Romanee, Red Burgundy, France.
These 2013 red Burgundies don’t get enough credit, in fact some are vastly underrated, especially this wondrous Vosne-Romanee village wine from Jean Chauvenet, it is simply ravishing and is a wine to enjoy now, though it should age well too! I had to go back to this wine at the recent Rosenthal imports tasting, just to be sure I read the label right, yup 2013, yup just a plain wrapper Vosne-Romanee, wow, okay then, this is beautiful, vibrant and vigorous Pinot Noir from an under the radar Domaine, you should find some of this if you are a Burgundy fiend! This gorgeous Vosne-Romanee is terroir driven with heady violets, wild herbs, mineral spice and deep red, blue and black fruits showing blueberry, tree picked plum, loads of cherry and forest berry layers with a background of rose oil, minty anise, tea spice and cedar notes as well as hints of cinnamon, iron, tart currant and earth. This medium bodied Burg is graceful throughout, but with superb density and mouth feel, as you’d expect from a Vosne-Romanee, it is playful on the palate, though seriously thought provoking and lingering. This is well crafted wine, detailed and textured, I’d have really thought it was a Premier Cru at least, and at this price it is a steal, this is certainly a producer in fine form and one to follow. The Chauvenet Vosne-Romanee, I understand was 100% de-stemed fruit, gently macerated including a short cold soak with a cool and lengthy fermentation, then put in barrel to finish malo, and then aged for a year and a half in barrique with about 25% new wood. This is a beautiful and exciting Burgundy, fresh and perfumed with lushness and packed with intrigue, drink over the next 3 to 7 years, this pretty and pure red delivers nothing but class and pleasure!
($65 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
