Domaine de la Vougeraie

The History of Domaine de la Vougeraie

The story begins in 1964, when the young Jean-Claude Boisset, the son of schoolteachers, acquired his first vineyard: five hectares in the Les Evocelles lieu-dit, on the heights above Gevrey-Chambertin. From this foundation, he built a wine house that quickly found export success in the United Kingdom, then Europe and the United States. Twenty years later, in 1984, came the vineyards around Vougeot and the first foothold in the Côte de Beaune.

Domaine de la Vougeraie was founded in 1999. Jean-Charles and Nathalie Boisset decided to bring together all the family vineyards acquired over the decades under a single name, borrowed from the Vouge, the river that flows a stone’s throw from Vougeot. Further acquisitions followed: Clos du Prieuré, a first plot in Clos de Vougeot, then Musigny, Bonnes-Mares and Charmes-Chambertin, followed by Corton Clos du Roi and Beaune Grèves. The arrival of the golden-hued Clos Blanc de Vougeot monopole completed the picture. In the cellar, Pascal Marchand made the first vintages through 2005. Pierre Vincent then softened the extraction and refined the style through 2019, before Sylvie Poillot continued the work with the same exacting standards.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine de la Vougeraie

Few Burgundy estates offer such a complete picture of the Côte d’Or. The vineyards stretch from Gevrey-Chambertin to Puligny-Montrachet, taking in Vougeot, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Corton, Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pommard and Volnay. The Jurassic clay-limestone soils vary considerably from one climat to another: deep marl, exposed slabs of hard limestone, stony scree or richer deposits at the foot of the slopes. Each plot thus has its own identity, which the estate strives to reveal without smoothing away its distinctions.

The jewel of the vineyards remains Clos Blanc de Vougeot, an unusual white-wine vineyard amid the great reds, planted by the monks of Cîteaux as early as 1110 and preserved for nearly a thousand years. Clos du Prieuré, enclosed by its high wall and embraced by the Vouge, dates back to the ninth century. Vineyard management centers on regularly worked soils, deliberately low yields and a biodynamic approach adopted in the early years and subsequently extended across the entire estate. Some young vines are planted at very high density, up to 13,600 vines per hectare, and arranged in a fan shape to capture the ideal light.

Winemaking at Domaine de la Vougeraie

Everything is designed to preserve the integrity of the grapes. They are harvested by hand, meticulously sorted on a vibrating table, then transferred to vats with the utmost care. Since 2008, whole-cluster fermentation has been widely favored for the reds, bringing aromatic complexity, freshness and fine tannins. Fermentation takes place in open vats, often wooden ones, using only indigenous yeasts, without the forceful extraction that marked the earliest vintages.

The whites are gently pressed, notably in a vertical press, then aged for twelve to eighteen months depending on the cuvée. The reds spend fifteen to eighteen months in oak barrels sourced mainly from the Cîteaux forest, with the proportion of new oak tailored to each plot so it never masks the fruit. The lunar calendar guides the key stages, from racking to bottling. This bespoke approach to winemaking and aging for each climat accounts for the increasingly precise expression of the terroirs and the house’s consistently elegant style.

The Cuvées of Domaine de la Vougeraie

Côte de Beaune Les Pierres Blanches (white and red): made in both colors, this cuvée takes its name from the highly calcareous soil. The white emphasizes citrusy tension and minerality; the red is supple, floral and inviting, ready to drink relatively young.

Beaune Blanc and Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc: two Côte de Beaune Chardonnays with complementary profiles. The white Beaune offers notes of pear and hazelnut and a caressing texture, while the white Savigny-lès-Beaune shows more drive and a saline finish.

Puligny-Montrachet: this outstanding village wine expresses the appellation’s crystalline finesse. Fresh citrus, acacia blossom and chalky minerality unfold across a focused, lingering palate supported by discreet oak aging. Cellar for three to five years.

Vougeot Le Clos du Prieuré Blanc (Monopole): sourced from a little-known vineyard producing both red and white wine that dates back to the ninth century, this rare white combines roundness, notes of ripe white fruit and a pronounced mineral backbone. A limited-production cuvée that perfectly illustrates the estate’s skill with Côte de Nuits Chardonnay.

Vougeot 1er Cru Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot (Monopole): a legendary vineyard whose golden fruit has graced the monks of Cîteaux since 1110, and the only white premier cru in this area. The wines are aged separately before being blended into a single cuvée, yielding a rich, lingering wine with deep color and a magnificent texture that combines minerality and opulence. It is the last of the estate’s wines to be bottled.

Charlemagne Grand Cru: sourced from the Corton hill, this white grand cru combines mineral power with aromas of acacia, almond and candied citrus, followed by a remarkably long saline finish. One of the range’s finest whites, made for at least ten years in the cellar.

Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: this small grand cru in Puligny charms with its floral finesse and vibrancy. Toasted walnut, white flowers and citrus play off one another on a lively palate with a spicy finish and an intensity that continues to unfold in the glass.

Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: blended from three plots, this wine needs time to open up before revealing citrus, mirabelle plum and brioche notes. The texture is generous and slightly waxy, the depth remarkable, with minerality emerging as it breathes.

Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru: born of the thin soils high on the slope, this wine is the epitome of verticality. A finely etched, distinctive nose leads to a taut, saline palate with striking persistence. A grand cru for collectors, produced in minute quantities.

Savigny-lès-Beaune and Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Marconnets: the village wine is fruit-forward and immediately appealing, with strawberry and redcurrant notes. The Les Marconnets premier cru, neighboring Beaune, offers greater structure and depth, with firm tannins and spicy notes that call for a few years in the cellar.

Beaune Rouge, Beaune La Montée Rouge, Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi and Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves: this Beaune family spans the full range of styles. La Montée Rouge charms with its ripe, inviting fruit; Clos du Roi with its density and structure; while Les Grèves, one of the appellation’s finest climats, offers a velvety texture, complexity and exceptional length.

Pommard Les Petits Noizons: this named vineyard produces a fleshy, sun-soaked Pommard with notes of plum, black cherry and warm spice. The tannins are present but well-rounded, and the finish is generous. A wine of character to cellar for five to eight years.

Volnay: the appellation’s floral elegance finds graceful expression here, with violet, raspberry and a hint of pepper. A silky texture, exquisitely fine tannins and lasting freshness make this cuvée one of the range’s most delicate reds.

Gevrey-Chambertin, Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice, Les Evocelles and 1er Cru Bel Air: the estate’s historic birthplace. La Justice, at the foot of the slope, produces a supple, fragrant wine. Les Evocelles, the first vineyard acquired in 1964, just below the forest, delivers deep black fruit and a beautiful mineral clarity. The Bel Air premier cru, next to Chambertin, adds power, tension and greater aging potential.

Chambolle-Musigny: true to the village’s reputation for delicacy, this cuvée reveals a nose of rose, wild strawberry and gentle spice. The palate is fine and airy, carried by supple tannins and a floral finish of great elegance.

Vosne-Romanée Aux Champs Perdrix: this climat on the heights above Vosne produces a refined wine with aromas of black cherry, licorice and exotic spice. Its mineral backbone and freshness make it a particularly pure expression of Vosne terroir.

Vougeot Le Clos du Prieuré Rouge (Monopole) and Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras: enclosed by its high wall, the red Clos du Prieuré offers a silky, fragrant Pinot Noir marked by red fruit and violet. Les Cras, a premier cru neighboring Clos de Vougeot, is denser and more mineral, with a youthful austerity that softens after a few years.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, Les Corvées Pagets and Clos de Thorey (Monopole): three expressions of Nuits-Saint-Georges terroir. At higher elevation, Les Damodes emphasizes finesse and mineral freshness. Les Corvées Pagets, in the south of the appellation, brings power and black fruit. Clos de Thorey, an estate monopole, combines flesh, structure and a remarkable velvety texture.

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: an enduring emblem of the Côte de Nuits, this historic grand cru offers impressive richness and concentration. Layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, forest floor and gentle spice rest on a fine tannic framework, leading to a sumptuous finish. A wine with exceptional aging potential.

Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyères Grand Cru: sourced from vines planted in 1914 and now more than a century old, this cuvée is one of the estate’s most consistently acclaimed. It combines aromatic depth, energy and volume with a texture of rare density. A grand cru for collectors.

Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru: situated on the Chambolle side, at the border with Morey-Saint-Denis, it charms with its sensuality and suppleness. Aromatic freshness, complexity and an almost perfect texture lead to a floral finish. Often cited among the house’s finest achievements.

Musigny Grand Cru: produced in minute quantities, this legendary grand cru brings together understated power and finely balanced complexity. The palate is broad yet airily elegant, with a finish that seems endless. One of Burgundy’s greatest wines.

Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru: the range’s red grand cru from the Côte de Beaune, sourced from one of the finest climats on the Corton hill. It offers a powerful, structured palate of black fruit, iron and spice, with chalky tannins shaping a long, earthy finish. An ambitious wine that needs at least eight to ten years in the cellar.