1990 Clos de Vougeot
By Domaine Leroy
1990 Clos de Vougeot from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France
The storied terroirs of Burgundy have given the world some of its most transcendent wines, and the 1990 Clos de Vougeot from Domaine Leroy is a testament to this illustrious heritage. The domain itself, stewarded by the inimitable Lalou Bize-Leroy, has an undeniable reputation for wines that are not merely consumed but experienced. It is with this reverence I approach the 1990 vintage, an articulation of viticulture at its zenith.
An Exemplar Vintage
To speak of the vintage is to recall a season bestowed by the heavens — warm days and cool nights converged to create optimal conditions for ripening, with an absence of climatic extremes allowing each cluster to reach impeccable maturity. This harmonic conjunction imparted the 1990 Clos de Vougeot with a robe of sublime complexity and sheer depth.
Refined Elegance from the Very Earth
A glass of the 1990 offering reveals a wine in profound dialogue with its origins — the revered chalky soils and gentle incline of Clos de Vougeot's vineyards. One finds therein a layered bouquet, brimming with notes of lush red fruit that transition into secondary aromas: subtle hints of undergrowth, spices, and a whisper of game — hallmarks indicative of its age and nobility.
The palate confirms what the nose suggests: here is a burgundy that dances lithely between power and finesse. Tannins, now beautifully resolved, provide a matrix upon which flavours unfurl — with a vibrancy one might not anticipate in a wine that has seen over three decades. It is a poise that whispers rather than shouts; exquisite testament to Domaine Leroy's sensibilities.
For connoisseurs and investors alike, the balance and structure harboured within this wine not only reflect its storied past but signal an enduring future. Wealth preservation nods towards tangible assets such as this — where pleasure intermingles with prudence. If wines were words, then the 1990 Clos de Vougeot from Domaine Leroy would indeed be poetry writ upon the palate, an impression lingering long after the final sip has been savoured.
Market price (USD)
$54,770.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
2803.75
Scores and tasting notes
The magnificent 1990 Clos de Vougeot is medium-to-dark ruby-colored and offers a nose of waxy red cherries. Big, broad, and medium-to-full-bodied, it has satin-textured black cherries and spices that seemingly last forever in its interminable finish. This wine has great harmony, equilibrium, and balance. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.
Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 27 October 2000