Rene Engel

Wines from Domaine René Engel: buy at the best price

At the heart of the prestigious village of Vosne-Romanée, in the Côte de Nuits, Domaine René Engel remains a legend among the greatest estates in Burgundy. Founded in 1919 by René Engel, professor of oenology at the University of Dijon and co-founder of the mythical Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, this estate of approximately six hectares carried for three generations a unique signature, defined by finesse, aromatic purity and an almost unrivalled elegance. With its flagship, the Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, complemented by the Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux, Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Brûlées and Vosne-Romanée village, the estate has left its mark on the modern history of Burgundian Pinot Noir. Although the last vintage was produced in 2004, bottles signed by René Engel remain treasures sought after by enthusiasts the world over.

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René Engel Grands Echezeaux 1994
6 in stock
124480
Red
75cl
Very slightly damaged
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Burgundy | Grands Echezeaux

René Engel Grands Echezeaux 1994

€1,800.00 inc-VAT per bottle
€1,500.00 ex-VAT

History of Domaine René Engel

The story of Domaine René Engel begins in 1919, in Vosne-Romanée, under the impetus of an exceptional man born in the village itself in 1894. René Engel, having studied at the viticulture school in Beaune, applied his newfound knowledge to the family vines, supplemented by those inherited by his mother, who was descended from the Faiveley lineage. He quickly acquired a reputation as a fine connoisseur, became a professor of oenology at the University of Dijon for 35 years, and participated in 1934 in the creation of the famous Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, alongside his friend Jacques Prieur. An indispensable figure in pre-war Burgundy, he built an estate recognised for the quality of its Vosne-Romanée and Grand Crus.

His son Pierre took over in 1949, but his fragile health slowed the development of the property during the 1970s. It was Philippe Engel, grandson of the founder, who revived the estate from 1981 onwards. Advised for a few more years by his grandfather, Philippe imposed demanding choices from 1982 that rapidly elevated the property to become a major reference in Vosne-Romanée. Crowned Young Winemaker of the Year for the Côte de Nuits in 1992, he sublimated the terroirs of the house until his sudden passing in 2005. The 2004 vintage would be the last signed under the name Domaine René Engel. In 2006, François Pinault purchased the property and renamed it Domaine d'Eugénie, but the original bottles bearing the Engel name have become rare pieces, bearing witness to an unforgettable page in the history of Burgundian viticulture.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine René Engel

Domaine René Engel has always been distinguished by the modesty of its surface area — approximately six hectares — contrasting with the grandeur of its appellations. The entire vineyard is planted in Pinot Noir and benefits from locations among the most coveted in the Côte de Nuits. The estate notably held 1.37 hectares in Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, situated at the top of the clos, on clay-limestone soils with rocky outcroppings that are particularly favourable. It also farmed 0.50 hectares in Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru and 0.55 hectares in Echézeaux Grand Cru, in the Combe d'Orveaux.

In Vosne-Romanée, the property held 2.5 hectares spread across several lieux-dits for its village wine, as well as a remarkable plot of 1.05 hectares in Premier Cru Les Brûlées, partially planted in the 1950s by René and Pierre Engel. The age of the vines was a considerable asset, with some stocks exceeding 80 years, particularly in Clos de Vougeot. This mosaic of old vines, combined with the diversity of exposures and limestone soils, imparted to the wines a depth and a unique aromatic signature, marked by an airy finesse typically associated with Vosne-Romanée.

Vinifications of Domaine René Engel

In the cellar, Philippe Engel favoured a measured approach to vinification, in which the expression of fruit and the precision of terroir took precedence over power. The harvests were carefully sorted, the grapes partially destemmed according to the vintage, and fermentations conducted with restraint. Maceration was carried out with gentle extraction, avoiding any excess, in order to preserve the delicacy of texture that was the signature of the estate. The winemaker's light touch allowed Pinot Noir to express its full nobility, without masking the nuances of each plot.

Ageing took place in barrels for approximately eighteen months, with a reasonable proportion of new oak barrels, rarely exceeding 50%, except for the Grand Crus in the most accomplished vintages. This restraint with regard to oak guaranteed balanced, refined and elegant wines, both accessible in their youth and capable of a very long ageing. The bottles produced between the late 1980s and 2004, at their peak, remain today absolute references for lovers of Burgundy, expressing that particular grace which has made the legend of the estate.

The cuvées of Domaine René Engel

The Bourgogne Pinot Noir, an entry-level cuvée produced from young vines situated on the outskirts of Vosne-Romanée, offered a fresh, straight and fruity Pinot Noir. This discreet yet sincere cuvée allowed one to discover, at a regional level, the refined mouthfeel and airy style characteristic of the estate.

The Vosne-Romanée Village was the village-level signature of the estate, sourced from several plots totalling 2.5 hectares. Charming and deep, it revealed a nose of brilliant red fruits, cherry and flowers, supported by a silky, balanced and persistent palate. Its finesse of texture and its balance made it one of the most delightful Vosne-Romanée village wines of the Côte de Nuits.

The Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Brûlées, the jewel of the estate, came from a plot of 1.05 hectares partially planted in the 1950s, whose slightly offset rows still recall the joint work of René and Pierre Engel. Sourced from very old vines, this Premier Cru stood out for its spiced complexity, its aromatic depth and its exemplary balance. It delivered a thoroughbred Pinot Noir, blending ripe red fruits, floral notes and touches of soft spices, within a dense, velvety palate endowed with superb ageing potential.

The Echézeaux Grand Cru, sourced from a plot of 0.55 hectares situated in the Combe d'Orveaux, blended vines of approximately 25 years with stocks of more than 80 years. More delicate and refined than the two other Grand Crus of the estate, it offered an expressive nose of small red and black fruits, undergrowth and spices, supported by a fine, elegant and silky palate, traversed by a lovely freshness.

The Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru, produced over 0.50 hectares, ranked among the most beautiful expressions of this prestigious appellation. Long, subtle and profoundly aromatic, it captivated with its purity of fruit, its remarkable balance and its seemingly endless finish. Often rivalling the Clos de Vougeot for the title of most accomplished cuvée depending on the vintage, it embodied the ultimate elegance of Burgundian Pinot Noir.

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, the historic flagship of the estate, came from an exceptional plot of 1.37 hectares situated at the top of the clos, a large part of whose vines exceeded 85 years of age. Regularly ranked among the finest expressions of this appellation by enthusiasts and critics alike, it offered a powerful, deep and thoroughbred wine. Its dense texture, its fine tannins, its aromatic complexity and its exceptional ageing potential made it a true legend, sought after by collectors the world over.

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