Prieuré Roch's Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Vieilles Vignes 2020 comes from the older vines at the northern end of the Clos des Varoilles, the monopole the domaine took on in 2020. It is the fuller, sunnier partner to the Clos des Varoilles bottling.
About This Wine
The domaine bottles the Clos des Varoilles in two cuvées. This one is drawn from the northern end of the clos, which gets more direct sun and warmth, and Yannick Champ describes it as the more robust of the two. The domaine says it shows the character and freshness of Gevrey premier cru with the house touch, and notes that the plot's position, sheltered by the Combe Lavaux, keeps the wine fresh in hot years. 2020 was warm and dry, with high acidity thanks to cool nights.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Black cherry, blackberry and violet, with clove, liquorice and damp stone.
- Palate: Fuller and firmer than the Varoilles, with concentrated dark fruit, grippy tannin and fresh acidity.
- Finish: Structured, with floral lift and a lasting mineral close.
Serving & Food
Decant for an hour before serving at around 16°C in a large glass. It needs until about 2027 to settle and should go on into the late 2030s. Pair with côte de boeuf, venison with juniper, or lamb stewed with cumin and chilli.
How to Enjoy
Cellaring for five years or more, and a side-by-side comparison with the domaine's Clos des Varoilles.
Product Details
Producer: Domaine Prieuré Roch
Country: France
Region: Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
Appellation: Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru
Vineyard: Clos des Varoilles (northern section, old vines)
Vintage: 2020
Grape: Pinot Noir
Volume: 750mL
About the Domaine
Henry-Frédéric Roch was born into the Leroy family: his mother was Pauline Roch-Leroy and his aunt Lalou Bize-Leroy. In 1992 he became co-director of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, representing the family, alongside Aubert de Villaine.
His own domaine, founded four years earlier, was where he worked out his ideas. Its wines are unfiltered, made from whole bunches with native yeast and very little sulphur, and have a following well beyond Burgundy. Roch died in 2018, and the domaine continues under Yannick Champ.