Vosne Romanee 2020 Meo Camuzet

Tasting Note Vosne Romanee 2020

Initially, aromas of red cherries and raspberries emerge, complemented by the freshness of rose petals, with a dry, stony texture derived from the mid-slope fruit forming the foundation. On the palate, it feels concentrated rather than heavy, with the 2020 vintage's small berries delivering rich flavors. The tannins are fine and powdery-soft, and the acidity is clean and firm. Its potential is still hidden. This is a young Vosne-Romanée that needs air and time.

Grape Varieties

100% Pinot Noir, Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée is a single-varietal wine. The terroir says it all. The grapes simply convey the characteristics of the slopes where they were grown.

Cellaring Potential

The Village Vosne-Romanée from this producer typically opens up 3 to 4 years after bottling, but the 2020 vintage has such strong acidity and concentration that it's best to wait longer. It's best enjoyed by 2036. For a young bottle, decant it for about an hour before serving at 16-18°C.

About Meo Camuzet

For decades Domaine Méo-Camuzet owned some of Burgundy's best land without making the wine from it. Étienne Camuzet, mayor of Vosne-Romanée and a deputy for the Côte-d'Or, was too busy with politics, so he leased his vines out to four farmers, one of them Henri Jayer. That arrangement ran on until 2008, when the last tenants retired and Jean-Nicolas Méo finally had every plot in his own hands. He had come back to Vosne-Romanée in 1989, taught by Jayer and by Christian Faurois, son of one of the estate's historic tenants. Fourteen hectares, six Grand Crus (Richebourg among them), ten Premier Crus across four communes, village wines and three Chardonnays. Every plot is vinified and bottled separately. Organic practices without certification, horses on the difficult slopes, around seventeen months in French oak on average, then gravity bottling, unfiltered.

Christian Faurois retired in 2018 after decades running the vines, replaced by Damien Hudelot.

Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs, the négoce arm was set up in the early 2000s with the same family shareholding and is commercially of importance.

Terroir & Climate

The vineyard, spanning approximately 3.5 acres, is divided into two very distinct sections. Les Barreaux is located on the mid-slope, and its soil is of a quality closer to Grand Cru than Village. The northeast-facing terrain and cool breezes blowing from the combe help preserve the fruit's freshness, which is the very essence of this blend. Les Communes adds the typical Vosne-Romanée flavor profile, derived from the mixed soil of limestone, marl, and clay found in Côte de Nuits. For Les Barreaux, the harvest must be delayed and yields kept low to achieve full ripeness.

Winemaking

Whole clusters are not used in this wine. For Méo-Camuzet, the stems are completely removed, and the fruit undergoes cold maceration at approximately 15°C for 3 to 5 days until natural yeasts initiate fermentation. Fermentation lasts 2 to 3 weeks, with pump-overs performed early on and punch-downs during the final stage. It is then aged for about 17 months in approximately 50% new French oak barrels; these concentrated wines absorb the oak so well that no woody notes are detectable. Bottling is done by gravity without filtration.

Food Pairing

Boeuf Bourguignon is the most classic pairing; the braising liquid creates an exquisite balance with the wine's acidity, making it a perfect match. Duck breast or roasted pigeon pair better with this wine's delicate tannins than beef fat does. Morel or porcini mushrooms served with a cream sauce bring out the wine's earthy notes. Époisses, a washed-rind cheese from this region, is somewhat challenging to pair with, but it's worth a try.