2012 Clos Vougeot

The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru offers fine definition on the nose, with crisp red currant and cranberry scents that brim with vigor. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry. There is good extraction here with a punchy, tangerine-tinged finish that leaves you wanting more. Very fine. Drink 2016-2030. I am probably causing even more confusion by adding yet another Noellat to the ever-expanded roster of 2012s, but hey, that’s Burgundy for you. So to answer the question, yes, there is a family relation with Domaine Georges Noellat because winemaker Alain Noellat’s grandparents were cousins. And the good news is that the winemaking skill must run through the family. The domaine is located close to Leroy and they oversee a considerable 27 hectares of vine that are tended lutte raisonee, the grapes destemmed before aging in a more modest use of new oak, reaching about half for the grand crus. This was a commendable set of wines, not quite at the level of say Maxime’s at Georges Noellat, but not far off, and certainly worthy of visiting next time I am in Vosne. Little of their wine is exported at the moment, but it deserves a wider, appreciative audience. No known US importer.