La Grande Rue Grand Cru Monopole 2023 Nicole Lamarche | Burgundy

Nicole Lamarche 'sGrande Rue Grand Cru Monopole comes from a narrow ribbon of vines running over 300 meters between the La Tâche climats on one side and La Romanée, La Romanée-Conti and La Romanée-Saint-Vivant on the other. This Grand Cru extends over just 1.65 hectares of brown clay-limestone soils, deeper in the lower part of the slope, and marked on the surface by a light-colored stone that naturally structures the profile of the Pinot Noir. A historic monopoly of Domaine Lamarche, La Grande Rue has been cultivated for over a century by this family of great winemakers, and is now the flagship of Nicole Lamarche's wines. The very low yields, the advanced age of the vines and the careful attention to detail result in a perfectly healthy harvest, hand-picked when ripeness is optimal. The grapes are completely destemmed before being vinified with their indigenous yeasts. A measured ageing period of 16 to 20 months in experienced oak barrels allows the natural concentration of the wine to develop without altering its balance.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Domaine Nicole Lamarche 's Grande Rue Grand Cru Monopole is one of Vosne-Romanée's most sought-after wines, a rare monopole set among the mythical terroirs that have shaped the reputation of this mythical Côte de Nuits village. Between the striking nobility, precision of fruit and sovereign tension of the chalky framework so characteristic of the climate, everything converges towards a balance where depth and energy go hand in hand, with the allure that only cellar-worthy wines display.

The nose reveals delicate aromas of dried flowers and ripe red fruit, from wild strawberry to kirsch cherry. This aromatic finesse is accompanied by a diffuse, stony minerality. Notes of undergrowth and spices emerge as the wine opens. The whole retains great finesse, with noble, chiselled fruit that dominates without overpowering.

The palate combines concentration and lightness with remarkable ease. The ample, ripe material unfolds with a velvety texture, carried by very fine tannins and sapid acidity that give splendid relief to this Grand Cru. The red fruit flavors find a natural extension in the persistent chalky tension, which structures the frame and prolongs the cherry and sweet spice flavors with beautiful length. The harmony between finesse and power promises that this cuvée La Grande Rue from Domaine Nicole Lamarche will keep for at least two decades!