Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru, Clos Des Réas, Domaine Michel Gros, 2021

The Gros family have been a dominant presence in Vosne-Romanée since 1830 and Michel, alongside sisters Anne and Anne-Francoise and brother Bernard, all of whom have eponymous domaines, represents the sixth generation.

The jewel in Michel’s crown is the 2.12ha Clos des Réas, the only Premier Cru monopole in Vosne Romanée, owned by the family since 1860, a few metres from La Tache. Low yields, hand picking, total destemming and minimal racking are factors in the resultant style of Michel’s wines.

“Tobacco leaf, crushed white rocks, black plum skin and tight red cherries, on the nose followed by more sous bois notes, and a hint of salted liquorice and blood orange. Palate shows great energy, with lifted red fruits, you really feel on roof of mouth. Initial attack is chalky and all about the structural elements with the sweetness asserting itself more on the mid to late palate, leading to a very vibrant, long tapered, saline finish – like an isosceles triangle. Never the most immediate of wines, this shows really good potential for longevtity after a few years in the cellar.”
Tom Harrow, Wine Guru