Domaine de la Vougeraie is the Boisset family's Burgundy estate and one of the largest biodynamic growers on the Côte d'Or. The range runs from Bourgogne Terres de Famille to grands crus such as Bonnes Mares, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot and Chevalier-Montrachet.
Domaine de la Vougeraie: the Boisset family estate in Burgundy
The domaine was created in 1999, when Jean-Charles and Nathalie Boisset brought the family's best vineyards together under one name. Its roots go back further. In 1964 their father, Jean-Claude Boisset, bought the first plot, Les Evocelles in Gevrey-Chambertin, and over the following decades vineyards in Vougeot and around Beaune were added, along with whole estates such as L'Héritier-Guyot and Pierre Ponnelle. The name comes from the family home, La Vougeraie, and is also a nod to the village of Vougeot.
Today the domaine farms around 37 hectares across almost 30 appellations, split roughly evenly between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. The cellar is in Prémeaux-Prissey, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Pascal Marchand was the first winemaker, and from 2006 Pierre Vincent took over before later moving on to Domaine Leflaive.
Biodynamic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Côte d'Or
The vineyards have been farmed organically from the start, and the move to biodynamics began in 2001. The whole estate is now biodynamic, and the steepest grand cru plots are still ploughed by horse. The idea is simple: living soils and low yields give grapes that show the difference from one vineyard to the next.
The reds are Pinot Noir, fermented with wild yeasts in wooden vats and often with a share of whole bunches, which brings freshness and a spicy, floral lift. The whites are Chardonnay, fermented in barrel. New oak is kept moderate, and the wood comes from the Cîteaux forest, so fruit and site stay in front. The style is about precision and elegance rather than weight and power.
Monopoles and grands crus from Domaine de la Vougeraie
The domaine owns four monopoles, vineyards where it is the sole owner. The best known is Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot, a premier cru that the monks of Cîteaux planted with white grapes. Vines here are first mentioned in writing in 1110, and the clos has never been divided, not even during the French Revolution. The other three are Vougeot Clos du Prieuré, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de Thorey and Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle, made in both white and red.
On the red side the range runs from Bourgogne Pinot Noir Terres de Famille through Volnay, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin to Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Marconnets, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes and Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras. At the top sit Clos de Vougeot, Bonnes Mares, Musigny, Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyères and Corton Le Clos du Roi. The white grands crus are Charlemagne, Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet. Several wines also come in magnum, and Clos de Vougeot in double magnum.
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Domaine de la Vougeraie questions and answers
Is Domaine de la Vougeraie biodynamic?
Yes. The domaine has worked organically since it began and moved to biodynamics from 2001. Today every vineyard is farmed biodynamically.
What is Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot?
A white premier cru monopole in Vougeot, planted by the Cistercian monks of Cîteaux. It is almost entirely Chardonnay and gives a taut, mineral white with the structure to age.
How is Vougeraie connected to Marchand-Tawse?
Pascal Marchand was Vougeraie's first winemaker. Today he makes his own wines under the Marchand-Tawse name, a separate house whose wines are not on this page.
How long can the wines be cellared?
Bourgogne Terres de Famille and the village wines drink well young. The premiers and grands crus reward a few years in the cellar and can develop for ten years or more from a good vintage.