Clos-Des-Lambrays

This has a little less whole-bunch this year (85 percent) and 50 percent new oak, as usual. This really goes through the gears. To begin with, the colour is profound. The bouquet has a brilliant interplay between spice and dark fruit – cinnamon one moment, damson the next. Finally the whole performance is sewn together by a carefully worked infrastructure of silky tannin and tightly woven acidity. This is a very special example of both the style of the domaine and Morey-St Denis itself. Drink 2025-2035.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

The Clos des Lambrays was established in 1363 yet it was only in 1981 that this climat was finally promoted to Grand Cru status, as it deserves. The estate was purchased in 1996 by the Freund family who sold on in turn to LVMH in 2014. Winemaker Thierry Brouin has been in charge since 1979. The vineyards are run on more or less organic lines, with no chemical anti-rot sprays and ploughing of the soil by horse. In the cellar, he likes to use the majority of the stems, favours punching down over pumping over and prefers to restrict the amount of new oak – around 50 percent for the Grand Cru. This is Thierry Brouin’s last vintage before his successor Boris Champy takes over. Morey was spared the frosts, so there is an air of unbridled optimism here. A cold spring left only a touch of frost on the vineyards under the trees, but otherwise the vines were untouched. Similarly, the mildew – which was exceptionally problematic for some growers, especially if they were organic – was controlled effectively. August was even warmer than in 2015 and timely September rain made this a fine year at the domaine.

Fine, bright medium-deep purple, very spicy nose with dark raspberry fruit, and an especially complex nose; almost too rich for classic Lambrays. What energy at the back! It all seems terribly youthful at this stage, but this should become a really great Clos des Lambrays.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

It was not so long ago that we could place a large order for the new wine from Clos des Lambrays and top up as well with some decent volumes of back vintages. Now, even without the succession of short crops, the success of Thierry Brouin’s wine has ensured that Clos des Lambrays is on strict allocation. There were only two barrels of the Morey-St Denis 1er Cru so it is not being offered for sale this year. The village Morey is entirely destemmed while the Grand Cru is vinified with whole bunches.

All the stems were used in vinification but, such is the intensity of the fruit, they don’t show. This is a rich, plump purple with a surfeit of ripe, velvety red fruit. It is very clean, very pure and very direct: lots of stuffing and lots of stems give this a very tight profile for the moment. This will take a bit longer than some vintages – but promises to be first rate.

Thierry Brouin, whose successor at the Domaine des Lambrays is about to be unveiled, is very happy with 2014, his 36th vintage in charge here. He began picking on 22nd September, relatively late by his standards, and is happy to have produced a little more wine this year (with the exception of the Premier Cru).

This is made with 95 percent whole bunches and 50 percent new wood. With a lovely, noble mid-purple colour, the Clos des Lambrays starts discreetly, like other early-picked wines, then absolutely explodes into action. This is unquestionably glorious in its own classic style – a heavenly wine, in perfect balance. Drink 2024-2035.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Thierry Brouin, who will be retiring by the end of 2017, appears to be finishing on a high with superb vintages in 2015 and 2016. It is not a large crop in 2015, just 30hl/ha for the Grand Cru, but – like everybody else – Thierry appreciated the long, sunny summer and the healthy grapes. As always, he was amongst the earliest pickers, starting on 3rd September. 

All whole bunch fermentation, with 50% new wood. Palish in colour, it is lovely and elegant, with very stylish floral notes and fresh, crunchy red fruit and plenty of minerals. This has the drive and energy of the 2008 but with a little more weight of fruit. It is a lovely expression of Lambrays. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Since last we spoke the domaine has been purchased by LVMH, though Thierry Brouin has remained in charge. No immediate changes are expected, except in one respect. While 2013 remains a very small crop (27 hectolitres per hectare for the village wine, 25 hectolitres per hectare for the Clos) it is at least much more than last year.

This Grand Vin is a lovely wine in 2009. The Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru is suffused with graceful raspberry and strawberry flavours, along with some smoke and spice high notes. It has fine depth and considerable length to complete the offering.

Grand Cru, Grand in. Lacy magic from the confident, experienced, but never complacent winemaker, Thierry Brouin. Bright and energetic, this sophisticated red displays a wealth of soft strawberry fruit that, along with a dash of pepper, suffuses the bouquet. It then finishes on a richly satisfying palate of ripe, soft and rounded red fruit.

The Clos des Lambrays in Morey St Denis has been producing fine wine since at least 1363, its quality being recognised by promotion to Grand Cru status in 1981. The estate was purchased in 1996 by the Freund family and since then dramatic changes have taken place, leading to an upsurge in quality. The domaine owns 8.66ha of Clos des Lambrays, making it almost a monopoly – there is one other producer with a few rows of vines at the bottom.

Winemaker Thierry Brouin has been in charge since 1979. The vineyards are run on more or less organic lines, with no chemical anti-rot sprays, and ploughing of the soil by horse. In the cellar, he likes to use the majority of the stems, favours punching down over pumping over, and prefers to restrain the amount of new oak – around 50% for the grand cru.  Domaine des Lambrays produces wines which possess balance, power and finesse and which fully live up to their Grand Cru status.
Lifted, ripe strawberry and redcurrant on the nose, alongside a lack of vanillin spice from the oak. The palate is multi-layered with fine tannins and a core of intense fruit. The finish goes on and on in this very fine effort. A little patience will be required but will be well worth the wait!
Fergus Stewart, BBR Fine Wine

Made from tiny yields (only 26 hl/ha), the 2008 Clos des Lambrays certainly makes up in quality what it lacks in volume. There is tremendously elegant fruit on the bouquet and it is completed by a fresh, racy finish; a great result.

This is generous and very velvety, open and approachable. The complexity is still unfolding, but this has a very good, long finish. There seems already to be a bit more focus and composure under the new team. Ninety percent whole-bunch, this was raised in  50 percent new oak. Yields were 38hl/ha.  Drink 2025-2030.

This is the first solo vintage for Boris Champy and the start of a new era, as Bernard Arnault, having made his first visit to the domaine since its purchase by LVMH, has set new targets of excellence. A new cuverie is promised and a full vineyard survey has just been completed, with other luxury-brand accoutrements also promised. Boris noted that 2017 is one of the earliest at the domaine, along with 2003, 2011 and 2015, starting here on 3rd September. It’s a good, general vintage,  he feels, with lowish acidity, comparable  to 2006.