# Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru (2021)

- **Producer:** Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €1350
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, black plum, blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, chocolate, cloves, cedar, smoke, earth, forest floor, dried fruit, tobacco, leather

## About this wine

The Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is a distinguished red wine from Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, a producer with a history dating back to the 15th century. This Grand Cru appellation is located on the border of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis in Burgundy, France, a site known for its varied soil types. The 2021 vintage reflects adaptations in winemaking under a new winemaker, including the use of whole clusters. The estate's long-standing philosophy emphasizes a harmonious relationship between vineyard and people, with winemaking tailored to the specific terroir and vintage conditions.

## Interesting facts

- Vineyard name origin theories include 'good mothers' (nuns) or a verb for cultivation.
- The vineyard straddles two communes: Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis.
- The estate has been in the same family for 20 generations.
- The 2021 vintage was described by Decanter as 'a wine from another planet'.

## Food pairing

The wine's firm tannins and medium-plus body are well-suited to complement the protein and fat in richer meats like duck and lamb. Its complexity and potential for earthy notes can harmonize with mushrooms and root vegetables, while subtle spice notes can stand up to savory sauces.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé for the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2021 involves careful fruit handling, with grapes picked into small bins and sorted meticulously to avoid crushing. Fermentation typically occurs in wooden vats. Key techniques for this vintage included the use of 50% whole clusters and a revised approach to malolactic fermentation. Aging takes place in French oak barrels, with Grand Cru wines using no more than 35% new oak. The estate practices sustainable viticulture, including plowing vineyards, avoiding chemical fertilizers, and using inter-row herbs for pest control.