This one flew under the radar over the last few months but was spotted by the eagle-eyed Claude Gilois at Terroirs du Monde. Indeed, you need to be somewhat au fait with French lawmaking to work out that anything had changed in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, and even then, the actual details are currently hard to come by.
Nonetheless, it appears the Vosne-Romanée appellation zone has been expanded, incorporating an additional 30 parcels of vineyard into the appellation. In total, these blocks constitute three hectares (7.4 acres).
Furthermore, a single domaine (which has so far not been named) requested five parcels be upgraded to premier cru status – in other words, that five small blocks of vineyard currently neighboring existing premier cru sites be now also classified as premier cru.
These modifications were approved in September 2024 and officially adopted this year.
Attempts to get more information on this have so far been unsuccessful. Wine-Searcher contacted Domaine Rouget – the current headquarters for the Syndicat de Defense for the Vosne-Romanée and Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru titles but, at time of publishing, no response had been forthcoming.
Gilois’ attempt was no more enlightening. A response from France’s appellation body, the INAO, simply said the September 2024 revisions to the appellation and its premiers crus were “minor” and that the changes to the area were not made public.
Will be interesting to see if it comes to light who requested their plots to be upgraded to 1er cru
Curious to know which direction the appellation expanded to as well
Well, I’m a bit puzzled - the only neighbouring vineyards to Vosne-R which are not Nuits-SG, Chambolle-M or Clos Vougeot are "below"the Route national … ???
Better Vosne-Village vineyards (to become 1er Cru) might only be below Suchots (Hautes Maizieres), above Richebourg (Les Barreaux) or above Beaumonts …
Isn’t there some village “en orveaux” in addition to 1er en orveaux? Aux reas is next to Clos de reas 1er also. Also, aren’t there some village parts of “Combe de orveau” in chambolle right next to the 1er “en orveaux”?
There is no Vosne Orveaux Village, only Grand Cru as part of Echezeaux.
The Chambolle Village Combe d Orveaux (Anne Gros and Mugnier) is seperated from the 1er Cru part by a gap, Anne Gros’ wine is floral, elegant, fruity but clearly a Village.
Clos des Reas is rather a light elegant Vosne 1er Cru, usually fine, complex but not powerful … Aux Reas is lighter still - not on 1er Cru level.
If I were a betting man, I’d guess the new villages plots would come from high on the slopes, perhaps with the plan to bulldoze some scrub land? Also perhaps some of the land around the Fontaine de Vosne? Looks like there’s a patch there which isn’t considered Vosne, which is now mostly filled with small parcels. All the other options (taking land from Nuits, Chambolle or dipping below the D974) seem inconceivable. Hope someone who knows chimes in!
Fontaine de Vosne might be an idea, but 1) I doubt it is large enough for 3 ha, 2) the wine from A.F.Gros’ parcel is quite light 3) the whole spot seems to be quite humid - I once walked thru to the Hotel Les Richebourg … part of it is their garden.
High on the hills - Damodes , Champ Perdrix do not look promising, except Les Barreaux
Hm, Combe Brulèes is tiny and facing nord … (Clavelier’s version is good but no match for his Brulèes) -
above Au Dessus de Malconsorts (which is a disapointing 1er Cru) is only Les Damodes, rough land between bushes …
Yes, for the first graph, the green parts are from La Montagne Lieu-dit, should be the upgraded Villages VR.
In Second graph, only plot 761 is upgraded Villages VR, from Beaux Monts Hauts Rougeots Lieu-dit, and the plot 74,75, 664 are original Villages VR.
