Anne Françoise Gros

History of Domaine Anne Françoise Gros

The Gros family's winemaking story begins in Vosne-Romanée in the 19th century, when Alphonse Gros settled in the village around 1830. In 1882, his son Louis Gustave acquired two hectares of Richebourg Grand Cru, a holding passed down through the generations. In 1988, Jean and Jeanine Gros began dividing the family estate among their three children. Anne-Françoise received her share, including 0.60 hectares of this historic Richebourg, and established her own wine business with her husband, François Parent, a native of Pommard.

Bringing together the two families' vines created a cohesive estate spanning Pommard, Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Flagey-Échezeaux. François Parent has overseen winemaking from the outset, building the estate's international reputation for its accomplished expression of Burgundian Pinot Noir. Today, two of their three children run the property: Mathias handles production and winemaking, while Caroline manages the business and wine sales. The purchase of 3.6 hectares in Moulin-à-Vent in 2017, followed by the addition of Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru through a family exchange, has further expanded the range.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Anne Françoise Gros

The vineyard covers around ten hectares across the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, plus parcels in Beaujolais. In the Côte de Nuits, the estate cultivates Richebourg on fine, deep brown limestone soils; Échezeaux, planted with century-old vines; Clos de Vougeot in the renowned Musigni and La Garenne sectors; and several Vosne-Romanée climats: Aux Réas, adjoining the famous Clos des Réas, and Les Chalandins, separated from Clos de Vougeot by a single wall. There are also vines in Chambolle-Musigny spread across five small parcels and a site in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits.

In the Côte de Beaune, the family's home village of Pommard provides three premiers crus—Les Arvelets, Les Pézerolles and La Chanière—on clay-limestone soils that yield powerful, structured wines. Les Arvelets covers just 0.31 hectares, while Les Pézerolles comprises parcels of 60- and 80-year-old vines. Beaune contributes the premier cru Les Boucherottes, below Clos des Mouches, and Les Montrevenots for Chardonnay; Savigny-lès-Beaune contributes the premier cru Clos des Guettes. Vineyard management is sustainable, inputs are limited, and harvesting is entirely by hand, with rigorous cluster selection.

Winemaking at Domaine Anne Françoise Gros

Picked into buckets, the grapes reach the winery within minutes and pass over a sorting table installed in 2008. Some cuvées are fully destemmed and others partially so; whole clusters are reserved for Vosne sites and premiers crus, depending on the vintage. The berries are not crushed and go into enameled concrete or wooden tanks for three to five days of cold maceration at around 5 degrees, with gentle pump-overs.

The tank is then warmed to between 25 and 30 degrees for around ten days of fermentation, with more pump-overs than punch-downs to preserve the finesse of the tannins. Aging takes place for 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels sourced from the Châtillonnais and Fontainebleau forests: around 50% new oak for the village wines, 65% for the premiers crus aged 15 months, and 100% for the grands crus aged 18 months. The regional appellation wines are vinified in tanks. The wines are bottled without fining and are very rarely filtered.

The Cuvées of Domaine Anne Françoise Gros

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: a blend of three estate parcels, two in Pommard and one between Pommard and Volnay. Modest color, delicate fruit aromas lifted by a floral note, and a long palate that calls for a little patience. An honest, well-crafted entry-level wine.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits: made from young vines whose small clusters are rigorously selected. The nose is vibrant and lightly smoky; the palate is juicy, mineral and direct. An immediately appealing wine for an aperitif or the table.

Vosne-Romanée Les Chalandins: a climat on the other side of the Clos de Vougeot wall, lending power and aromatic depth. The oak is evident but balanced by the wine's concentration; the palate is full and savory. Wait at least three years after bottling before opening.

Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas: adjoining Clos des Réas, this cuvée is vinified with around 40% whole clusters. An elegant, floral nose of impressive intensity leads to a concentrated palate that broadens into a powerful finish. An outstanding village-level Vosne-Romanée.

Vosne-Romanée Clos de la Fontaine: a small 0.36-hectare parcel south of the village, farmed as an estate monopole through the 2021 vintage before returning to another branch of the family. A charming, intensely fragrant floral bouquet, fine texture and a wine more lithe than rich. Now a rare cuvée, worth seeking out in older vintages.

Chambolle-Musigny: from five small parcels, this village wine charms with exceptionally appealing aromatic intensity and very fine tannins. The palate is structured and direct, with long waves of flavor. A Chambolle that rewards patience.

Gevrey-Chambertin La Corvée: a négociant cuvée labeled A.F. Gros, blended from old and young vines. A broad aromatic range and a generous, supple, fresh palate carried by lively acidity. A Gevrey with plenty of potential.

Morey-Saint-Denis: from the village-level section of Monts Luisants, above Clos de Tart. The nose is reserved, while the palate is supple and savory, with subtle oak-inflected depth and a clean, mouthwatering finish.

Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Guettes: a premier cru with a lighter color and a rounded nose showing fine reductive notes in its youth. The tannins are present without roughness, and the finish is vivid and remarkably long. A cellar-worthy Savigny at a still-reasonable price.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Boucherottes: a premier cru below Clos des Mouches, produced in very small quantities. A beautifully pure, lightly floral nose leads to an energetic, open palate of vibrant intensity. A consistently successful wine that has earned several favorites awards in the specialist press.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Arvelets: a tiny 0.31-hectare parcel, fully destemmed and aged for 18 months with 65% new barrels. The subtle nose conceals remarkable depth, while the palate combines energy, freshness and intensity through a persistent finish. One of the estate's finest wines from the Côte de Beaune.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles: old vines in one 80-year-old parcel and another 60-year-old parcel, with a proportion of whole clusters. Aromas of red cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry are accented by herbs and spice; the full palate has refined tannins. A Pommard built for long aging.

Pommard 1er Cru La Chanière: a premier cru high on the slope that yields a structured, fruity wine marked by the site's freshness. The palate is dense, with a firm, mineral finish. A classic Pommard that gains greatly from a few years in the cellar.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint-Georges: a cuvée made under a grape-supply contract from the appellation's most prestigious climat. The airy nose becomes more fragrant with time in the glass; the palate broadens, with herbal, mouthwatering notes and a long, oak-inflected finish. A wine that rewards patience.

Échezeaux Grand Cru: a grand cru aged entirely in new barrels for 18 months, from vines approaching a century old. Around one-third whole clusters lend it tension. A beautifully gentle nose and a fresh, juicy palate with remarkable energy.

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: acquired by the estate through a family exchange, it comes from the renowned Musigni and La Garenne sectors. Moderately deep in color, with lively black fruit, substantial density and tension, and well-judged oak. A grand cru to cellar for at least a decade.

Richebourg Grand Cru: the jewel of the estate, 0.60 hectares from the holding acquired by the family in 1882. Complex, energetic aromas lead to a palate combining structure, richness and the saline persistence characteristic of this legendary Vosne-Romanée grand cru. The ultimate collector's cuvée.

Moulin-à-Vent En Mortperay: the result of a 3.6-hectare acquisition in Beaujolais in 2017, this cru offers lightly smoky red fruit and is aged without new oak. The palate is concentrated and generous, with a clearly recognizable Gamay character. A wine to enjoy right away.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Montrevenots Blanc: a rare estate Chardonnay, with lifted aromas and a light oak influence in its youth. The palate is energetic, saline and beautifully defined, with a lovely finish. A food-friendly white to open with fish in sauce.

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru: produced from a single barrel under contract, this white grand cru has a rounded, distinguished nose that is less exuberant than the Beaune white. Its aromatic profile is refined, and the palate is mouthwatering and almost juicy, with a remarkably precise finish.