The 2009 Beaune Greves is one of the darker, more brooding wines at La Vougeraie. Smoke, licorice and goudron are some of the nuances that flow from this intense red. Hints of crushed rocks frame the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Biodynamic farming and non-interventionalist winemaking are at the heart of the approach at Domaine de la Vougeraie. The 2009s saw roughly a 25 days of maceration (including a week of cold soak) with one punch down a day. Once in barrel racking was kept to a bare minimum. A number of wines were bottled in late 2010 and early 2011. I tasted these wines with winemaker Pierre Vincent in March 2011.Importer: Boisset Family Estates, St. Helena, CA; tel. (800) 878-1123

The 2009 Beaune Greves is striking. It shows just how great this vintage is for the Cote de Beaune. The 2009 has plenty of energy and finesse, with more than enough depth to smooth some of the more angular contours that are typical of Greves. I especially like the intensity of the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Importer: Boisset Family Estates, St. Helena, CA; tel. (800) 878-1123