Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé is unique as it can trace its history all the way back to the 15th century. Since then the Domaine has remained in the hands of the same family by inheritance or marriage. De Vogüé is also unique in that they only make wines from Chambolle-Musigny. All vineyards are grown in a more or less organic way, though this is not indicated on the label or certified. More than 12.5ha are owned. The main Grand Crus are Musigny and Bonnes-Mares. Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé also owns 0.56ha of Chambolle- Musigny’s Amoureuses vineyard, a premier cru situated just below Musigny and regarded by many as of grand cru quality. For 10 years Bourgogne has used horses to plough Amoureuses to protect the vines, which were planted in 1964 and 1974. Their parcels are on stony topsoils over oolitic limestone. Millet characterises the wine: ‘It’s the first lady of Chambolle, but not frivolous.’ Or, to extend his metaphor, it’s like Musigny’s little sister, always refined, yet never lacking backbone.
The 1993 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses, now at over 20 years of age, appears to have evolved an attractive bouquet with scents of raspberry, camphor, and wild mint, all well-defined. The palate is smooth and sensual on the entry, an Amoureuses that is well balanced, though not as complex as other vintages that I have encountered with hints of seaweed and iodine surfacing on the finish. This Amoureuses is still youthful, despite its age, and personally, I would leave this another five years.