In the late 1930's, Paul Misset, Philippe Cheron's grandfather, acquired parcels of vines in the Vougeot and Nuits Saint Georges communes. Not being a wine-grower, he entrusted their management to tenant wine growers in Vosne-Romanée. Starting with these original parcels, Paul Misset's grandchildren, two generations later, have built up a wine domaine which today covers 5 hectares, spread over the Nuits Saint Georges, Vosne Romanée, Chambolle Musigny and Clos de Vougeot appellations.
The domaine's winery and cellars are located in the historical centre of Nuits Saint Georges. The vaulted 19th century cellars allow the wines to be aged in perfect conditions and the modern, efficient winery has recently been totally refurbished.
After working as technical director at Domaine Jean-Claude Belland in Santenay, Philippe Cheron took over the family estate in 2011. A trained engineer, he studied at the wine university in Suze la Rousse before gaining important experience making wine in the Rhône valley and then Burgundy. To round off this experience, he also took an agricultural training course at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune.
I first tasted at the "new' domaine early last year. Whilst the estate is small the vineyard holdings are quite lovely with appellations in Gevrey, Vosne and Chambolle as well as the Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot. The 2015's were excellent and made the on-the-spot decision to import Cheron's wines.
Lurking in the corner of the cellar were two barrels of Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers 2016. The vineyard had just come back to Philippe from a long term rental arrangement. It is a very old parcel with a vine age of 80 years. Not surprisingly it crops very low.
I was invited to try both barrels, one new oak, the other older oak. I absolutely stunned by what was in the barrels.
Aux Murgers is located at the northern end of Nuits-St-Georges close to the Vosne-Romanee border. Jasper Morris MW says "This vineyard is very well thought of". "The wines have the richness of their appellation plus some of the elegance of its neighbour, and always appear to retain good acidity".
I was so impressed that I tried to buy one of the barrels whilst in the cellars for my Selection Grand Millesime bottlings. I persisted despite being told it was not possible as the cuvee was too small (less than 600 bottles will be available for the world). I tried every angle. When I was back in Burgundy in November last year I again tasted the barrels. They were if anything even more impressive. I wrote "Exceptional!" "Grand Cru quality". I tried once again without success.
Philippe has done his assemblage and will bottle a little later this year. Overnight he advised me of what is available for Australia.
I taste a lot of wines whilst in Burgundy and I can honestly say this is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from barrel. And that includes some very big name Grand Crus.
Not often do I recommend a wine this highly but this Aux Murgers is a show-stopper. My enthusiasm, if not securing the barrel I so dearly wanted, has ensured a decent allocation from the less than 600 bottles of this wine produced. I am excited to offer the wine at a Pre Arrival discount of 25% (instead of the usual 15%). This is for a limited time only. Please don't miss it!
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