Domaine Jacques Frederic Mugnier Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses 2017

At the beginning of the 20th century, this estate founded in 1863 by Frédéric Mugnier, a liquor-maker in Dijon, included nearly twenty hectares of the best vineyards spread over Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges. In 1950, following the economic crisis of the 1930s and the world war, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, great-grandson of the first Frédéric, chose to sell the liquor business, and lease the vineyard out to a negociant in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The contract on the Chambolle vineyard ended in 1978 and 6 years later Frédéric Mugnier, son of Jacques-Frédéric, assumed full responsibility for the family estate.

Les Amoureuses is the most famous and highly respected of the 24 Premier Cru climats in Chambolle-Musigny. The vineyard is at the southern end of the Chambolle-Musigny commune. It lies just above the village of Vougeot and below the (Le) Musigny Grand Cru site on the limestone slopes of the Côte d'Or. The vineyard is often considered to be on par with its more highly ranked neighbor.

The terroir here is slightly different from that in the more northerly stretches of Chambolle-Musigny. The chalky soil is much lighter at this end of the commune, and is composed of a thin layer of rocky topsoil over a hard limestone subsoil. This drains freely, forcing roots to dig into cracks in the rock. Vigor is controlled and yields are limited, producing small, concentrated berries.

Les Amoureuses's slope is stepped, rather than homogenous, although most vines benefit from a southeast exposure. This gives plentiful access to sunlight during the day, with some shelter from the more intense afternoon sun. Grapes are able to reach optimum levels of sugars and flavors prior to harvest. Of course, the cool continental climate means that this ripeness never comes at the expense of acidity, ensuring that Les Amoureuses wines are balanced.

Vineyards are farmed without herbicides or pesticides and just two mildew treatments per year. Grapes are de-stemmed and whole berries are fermented in old open wooden vats. After around 16 months in oak, wines are bottled without fining and filtration.

Producer tasting notes: For us, Les Amoureuses represents the very essence of Burgundy; the most Burgundian of Burgundy wines. No other wine in the world has that paradoxical union of exceptional richness (aromatic intensity, depth of texture and length on the palate) and such airy delicacy. The “nose” is a bouquet of flowers and red berry fruit. If any wine has the ability to arouse emotions it is Les Amoureuses.