2023 Domaine Michel Gros Vosne Romanee Premier Cru Aux Brulees Pinot Noir Cote de Nuits

Michel Gros finished his studies at Beaune Viticultural high school in 1975, started working with his father Jean in 1978, and produced his first vintage in 1979. Today he farms 23 hectares of prime Burgundy land, including this premier cru monopole in Vosne-Romanee — one of the most prestigious villages on the Cote d'Or.

Aux Brulees sits just feet from Richebourg Grand Cru. The triangle-shaped 2.12-hectare vineyard is surrounded by a wall built between 1800 and 1810 that protects the vines from east and north winds, creating a microclimate warm enough to ripen fruit two to three days earlier than the rest of the village. The soil runs 50 centimeters of red limestone over oligocene marl streaked with salmon veins and large limestone blocks — the kind of terroir that turns Pinot Noir into something worth waiting for.

The 2023 vintage delivers an expressive nose with black cherries, fresh fig, and light licorice. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fresh red berry fruit, white pepper, and allspice on the finish. Fifty percent new oak is vocal now — this wine needs time to integrate and show what it's built to become.

Vinous scored the domaine's Clos des Reas 1er Cru 94 points in 2023, calling it "one of the best wines from the domaine." Neal Martin gave Aux Brulees 92 points, noting there's "a good Aux Brulees here, though you'll have to wait for the oak to be assimilated." This is the kind of wine serious Burgundy collectors cellar and open when it's ready — not before.