Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier
Prices:
Frédéric notes that the grapes were very healthy in 2014, with a “correct” yield, lower than 2009 but the best since then. In any case, Frédéric aims to stay below 35 hl/ha, so the wines will always have a desirable intensity. This being a given, the style here reflects the light hand of the winemaker, with minimal extraction during vinification.
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 1cs
Jeroboam 1 x 300cl 1cs
This is the largest premier cru in Nuits St Georges (though would still fit ten-times over in
many Bordelais estates) at 9.55 hectares and is owned in its entirety by the Mugnier family. It
was rented out to Maison Faiveley from 1950 to 2003, with Jacques-Fréderic making his
début in 2004. The wine now has a definite “Chambolle” edge to it and combines Nuits
weight with the Mugnier soft touch.
(BBR Fine Wine)
The alluring perfume here is seriously expressive - more like a great Chambolle than a Nuits, but with a tell-tale Nuits grip. The palate has serious freshness, depth, complexity and a wonderfully long finish, all combined with the smooth texture. We are seeing the maestro that is Frédéric Mugnier really getting to grips with this vineyard – this is the best vintage of this wine yet.
(BBR Fine Wine)
Mugnier’s Clos de la Maréchale has layer upon layer of dark red fruit with an impressive weight on the palate and a superb aftertaste. This should age very well indeed.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Burgundy Buyer)
Case price (D. Magnum 1 x 300cl)
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director
Whereas the yield in Frédéric Mugnier’s Chambolle-Musigny vineyards (not released En Primeur) is only a little below normal, his pride and joy to the south, the Clos de la Maréchale, suffered far worse from a very poor flowering and some hail damage. It will have produced, at best, one third of a normal crop. We will have to console ourselves with the quality of the wine instead.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer
The harvest began on 5th October, the latest since 1984 which was before Frédéric’s time. After a very cold spring and a poor September, it was hard to decide when to pick. He had to choose between lack of maturity and the onset of botrytis. In the event he began with the Clos de la Maréchale.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Jeroboam 1 x 300cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
(Stuart Rae, BBR Fine Wine)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 6 x 150cl 1cs
Jasper Morris MW, Berrys' Burgundy Director “I refuse absolutely to harvest in August” said Freddy Mugnier while thinking about the upcoming vendanges. In fact he began on 2nd September and has brought in some very fine wines in 2011, a vintage which pleases him for its elegance, balance and harmony. Once again all the wine has qualified for the main Clos de la Maréchale label.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Magnum 6 x 150cl 5cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
This is another firm favourite of ours, year in, year out. The Clos de la Maréchale did not disappoint in 2009; it is a chunky, broad fellow yet finished off with an all encompassing gloss. Bravo!
(Stuart Rae, Cellar Plan Account Manager)
A lovely, rich purple colour with a sensitive nose leads to darker fruit and quite a powerful backdrop, but with no noticeable tannins. Wonderfully smooth, poised and with a long finish, Mugnier 's Nuits-St Georges Clos de la Maréchale wine is hard not to fall in love with.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer
Frédéric Mugnier usually begins his harvest with his Clos de la Maréchale but this year he picked his Chambolle vineyards first. There was no change to his vinification process for 2015 given that he employs a light hand in any vintage. Yields were lower than he expected – plenty of bunches but very small grapes – and Frédéric likes the style of the vintage. He notes that the tannins were not quite as ripe as 2005 and thus provide the fresher character evident in 2015.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director
2010 is the perfect sort of vintage to please Frdric Mugnier. Balance, elegance, discretion, length of flavour, only the small size of the crop is to be regretted. The final decision has not been made but it seems likely that all the Clos de la Marchale fruit in 2010 will make it into the main wine and the second wine Clos des Fourches will not be produced.
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
The Château de Chambolle-Musigny in the Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier has been in the Mugnier family since 1863. Admittedly at one point they had to fight a court case to prove that their house was the Château de Chambolle, as somebody else was (erroneously) claiming the honour. From 1950 the vineyards in Chambolle were contracted out to Faiveley (to 1977) and then Bruno Clair (to 1984), the latter selling the wine in bulk. In 1985 Frédéric Mugnier, the 5th generation of the family on the property, took over, though he combined running the family domaine with his job as an airline pilot until 1998. Now he concentrates solely on the domaine, where consistency has improved as a result, and from 2004 has also taken back the Nuits St Georges Clos de la Maréchale vineyard, on lease to Faiveley since 1950. The Domaine is the second largest owner of le Musigny. Part was planted in 1948 and the remainder in 1962, so this is now an old vine cuvée thoughout. Just 20-25% new wood is used in this ethereal wine which is as sumptuous as any example of Musigny, despite Frédéric’s understated handling.
The vines are run almost organically – no herbicides since 1991, no pesticides since 1997 and now only two treatments a year (against mildew) which are not organic. Frédéric is not an enthusiast for biodynamics however. A hint as to his philosophy appears on his website where he draws a parallel between the mature Glenn Gould finding ‘too much piano playing’ in his early work and the overworked winemaking evident in some Burgundy today.
The grapes are sorted diligently by the pickers before coming to the cellar in small cases. 100% stalks are removed and the whole berries are then conveyed into vats. The wines are bottled after a second winter in wood without fining or filtration. The wines are rarely deep in colour but are brilliantly fragrant in bouquet and notably persistent on the finish.
I mentioned once, while tasting at the domaine, that his wines had a sense of harmony about them. ‘That is the nicest thing you could possibly say to me about my wines,’ responded Frédéric.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.