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2016 Maison de Grand Esprit Vougeot Premier Cru

The 2018 release took us all by surprise. Equally, the speed of online orders outmanoeuvred our website which could not handle the number of orders being placed simultaneously. 91 customers registered to be ‘emailed when back in stock’ – this is one email you will not receive from the team and I.

Another surprise was the packaging. Smart, original wooden cases which added a touch of swank to an absolute bargain. The 2016s are housed in the same wooden cases.

The 2018 received a huge tick, all the 2017s received the thumbs down. I must add, the wines were perfectly drinkable, but simply average and uninspiring. Stu – welcome to Burgundy!

The 2016 Burgundy harvest was characterised as extremely small and those grapes that survived the frosts and rot were of an exceptionally high quality. For some producers, it was the tiniest on record and reason why many wines are astronomically expensive. Consequently, this wine was going in two, possible directions. Either Treasury Wine Estates bottled a rotter or something exceptional.

The 2016 was sampled on Monday and resampled on Tuesday morning (post a night spent in the cool wine fridge). Well done, TWE for producing a super-delicious wine. I hear the burning question, ‘how does it compare?'

I am pleased to say the ’16 provides a different experience. Less fruit-forward compared to the 2018 and more Burgundian than New World. My tasting note provides a detailed examination of the wine. There is one characteristic that both wines share – the quality versus the sales price is daft, even far fetched however, The Vinorium does not sell or recommend any wines that fail to tick every box. 

We’ve touched upon scoring wines and the importance of the same in previous communications. Personally, I believe the tasting note is more important as this accurately reflects the wine – your choice of glassware will affect the flavours. Is the 2016 a 100-point wine? In the context of scores and taking Standish as a benchmark in our portfolio – ‘no’ would be my answer. However, and purely from a quality, enjoyment and price perspective, this is faultless…

*The grapes sourced for this 2016 Premier Cru Vougeot are grown exclusively within officially classified Premier Cru vineyards of the Vougeot commune.  Vougeot is a small commune in the Cote de Nuits (a sub-region of Burgundy). The commune is tiny and most of the vineyard space is taken up by one of Burgundy's largest Grand Cru sites, the Clos de Vougeot which are incredibly expensive (most being north of £150 per bottle).

"This wine really appeals to me – it's transitioning, with tertiary notes coming forward. Regal and notably pure. Everything seems in the right place... from a quality, enjoyment and price perspective, this is faultless."

Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is wonderfully complex and would provide hours of entertainment. Unfurling to an irresistible mélange of sous-bois, raspberry, a smidgeon of rhubarb, violet, rose petal, sweet spice and prickles of blood orange. There’s an obvious wild hedgerow element to the fruit along with damp undergrowth and sea salt. Evolved and evolving – a wine that’s now turning to its second stage in life, and all the better for it. The palate is beautifully poised – the flavours build effortlessly. Those wishing for a comparison - this is less fruit-forward than the 2018. Mercurial with its deliverance and more Burgundian than New World. The tannins are so graceful and literally melt into the smorgasbord of wild, briary hedgerow fruit – a little sous-bois and orange peel too. This wine really appeals to me – it's transitioning, with tertiary notes coming forward. Regal and notably pure. Everything seems in the right place. Decanted for 30-minutes and served using Zalto Burgundy glassware.” Drink now to 2030. 
 

Given the phenomenal price – this wine is only available by the six-pack rather than individual bottles. You will have to take my word for it, which and over the years, I hope has never failed you.

All wines will be shipped directly from LCB and not via DPD.

*Delivery charges will apply to all orders, but we have factored this in when pricing the wine. Respectfully, even those customers who loathe paying one-pence for delivery - you will either miss-out or give us a huge slap on the back for bringing you one of the best value wines we have ever launched.

Delivery date

The wine is due to arrive with us mid-July and we plan to commence deliveries the first week of August.

We will provide an exact ETA nearer the time.

Maison de Grand Esprit Vougeot Premier Cru 2016

£70.00 Under Bond per case (6x75cl)

£100.05 Duty Paid per case (6x75cl) plus delivery

Equivalent to just £16.68 per bottle

We love it when our customers are as excited by our wines as we are...

Richard kindly provided this epic tasting note for the 2018...

"Hold onto your hats, my fellow wine enthusiasts, because the Maison de Grand Esprit Vougeot Premier Cru 2018 is about to take you on a rollercoaster ride of Pinot Noir delight! This wine is so intense and dreamy that it's like floating on a cloud made of peonies. Imagine that, peonies! But wait, there's more. It's a vino that doesn't merely swan dive into your glass but rather, one that does a full triple salchow before landing flawlessly in your goblet, its colour: the rich, sanguine blush of a bashful unicorn at twilight.

Now, let's talk about the mouthfeel. Picture this: pure sensuality in a glass. The wine glides across your tongue, leaving behind a glossy, fleshy, and sumptuous sensation that's positively indulgent. The tannins, my dear wine aficionados, are svelte and oh-so-smooth, melting seamlessly into the smorgasbord of wild hedgerow fruit. It's lusciousness personified, Yet, rest assured, this Pinot Noir is not overworked. No, it's a masterpiece of fruit and winemaking, brought to you by the talented folks at Treasury. They've taken the exceptional quality of fruit and turned it into liquid poetry that sings on your palate. Its depth of flavour a symphony of notes composed by the mischievous maestro, Bacchus himself

The finish was more satisfying than the conclusion of a Game of Thrones season (not season eight, of course). It lingered a regal parade of ripe berries and spice, growing ever more complex and intriguing, like an Agatha Christie mystery in liquid form.

In my illustrious 5 minute career as a wine reviewer, I must declare that this Maison de Grand Esprit Vougeot Premier Cru 2018 is the greatest underappreciated marvel I've ever had the honour of swilling. It's akin to unearthing a Fabergé egg in a barnyard, a concealed marvel deserving of acclaim and a sturdy wine rack.

In conclusion, the Maison de Grand Esprit Vougeot Premier Cru is a wine that defies expectations and sets the bar impossibly high. It's like catching lightning in a bottle, a truly remarkable experience that will leave you wondering how such a treasure could be so undervalued. So, my friends, raise your glasses high and toast to the Vinorium for bringing us a flawlessly delicious wine and a testament to the magic that happens when exceptional fruit meets masterful winemaking and an accountant that miss-typed the price."

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