Visit to Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg, tasting the 2018s

Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg is always a treat, even in the relatively hot 2018 vintage.

We were received by Marie-Christine Mugneret and got a short introduction to the vintage. The wines here are always in balance with the vintage, and express the nature and character of the year.

The 2018s here are rich, almost silkily-textured wines with weight and intensity. As always, the wines reflect the vintage – nothing more and nothing less – and in this case they reflect 2018’s warm generosity; rich, yes, but still balanced and with surprisingly fine energy and vivacity.

It is always a treat to enjoy a wine from Mugneret-Gibourg, and the 2018s will not disappoint the many fans of this fine domaine.

For more background on Mugneret-Gibourg check these articles:

• Visit to Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg – Tasting the 2023s
• Visit to Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg – Tasting the 2022s
• Visit to Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg – Tasting the 2021s

Now, to the tasting notes! And this year we have an extra wine – Vosne-Romanée La Colombiere – a new village lieu-dit from the backyard of the estate.

Tasting the 2018s at Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg

The wines were tasted from cask on November 8th, 2019, and they all showed well at this stage of development.

Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Bourgogne 2018

The Bourgogne rouge offers fine weight and concentration for its level. It is a rather substantial wine, but still very Burgundian even in a generous vintage like this. The nose shows relatively dark fruit, with some energetic elements of red fruit and a nice spiciness. Fine energy on the mid-palate; balanced, yet on the warm side.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Good – (87p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée 2018

The Vosne village offers generous weight and concentration. It is, however, made with a quite light hand, so is rather classic even in a big vintage like this. The nose shows  relatively dark fruit, with vivid elements of red fruit and a nice Vosne spiciness – notes of violets and lavender. On the palate, it is intense and rather weighty for a village, with fine vivacious mid-palate fruit to balance things. This will need some time to unfold.

(Drink from 2029) – Fine – (89 – 90p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée La Colombiere 2018

The Vosne La Colombiere is a new wine from Mugneret-Gibourg, coming from a plot just behind the estate. The vines here are 70 years old, giving the wine a more distinct terroir expression. This is more defined and expressive than the regular Vosne, with a more pronounced minerality. The nose has vivid fruit and a delicate perfumed scent of Vosne. On the palate, airier, with a delightful mineral lift. This a delicious glass with fine balance.

(Drink from 2031) – Fine – (90 – 92p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Vignes Rondes 2018

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Vignes Rondes is a 1er cru located next to Aux Murgers, and below Chaignots in the area between Vosne-Romanée and NSG. It shows pronounced NSG minerality with a lively iron note integrated into the generous fruit. Good energy and well balanced.

(Drink from 2030) – Fine – (90 – 92p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 2018

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Chaignots is a 1er cru located between Damodes and Aux Thorey, and above Aux Murgers and Vignes Rondes. This is a notch up on the minerality scale – from 60-year-old vines – and offers a rich and expressive view of the Nuits-Saint-Georges terroir. A warm wine, yet with a classic character.

(Drink from 2030) – Fine – (91 – 92p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux 2018

The Echezeaux is a delightful beauty – made from the two climats Rouges du Bas (a plot just above Echezeaux du Dessus) and Les Quartiers de Nuits. The nose is offering a fine floral expression – 20% whole clusters were used in this cuvée, and that really provides a lift. The nose is perfumed with notes of lavender and violets which spice the red and dark fruit. There is a lovely note of dark roses. A warm, generous and charming Echezeaux.

(Drink from 2034) – Very Fine – (93 – 94p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Ruchottes-Chambertin 2018

The Ruchottes-Chambertin is struggling a bit compared with the Echezeaux. This is somewhat on the warmer side, with very generous and warm raspberry notes coating the expressive minerality. On the palate it is somewhat on the rich side, yet still balanced with a nice expression of terroir. In the end this is perhaps the weakest of the grands crus in 2018 – but it is still singing a fine tune.

(Drink from 2031) – Fine – (91 – 93p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

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Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg Clos de Vougeot 2018

The Clos de Vougeot is really showing a generous and vivid potential – coming from a  fine plot just below the chateau. The nose offers a lovely perfumed scent of Vougeot – again the dark red rose – but this time with a hint of chocolate. On the palate rich, warm and generous with gorgeous balance; built for the long haul. Classic in the best sense.

(Drink from 2036) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 95p) – Tasted from cask 08/11/2019.

Summing up the 2018s ….

Mugneret-Gibourg is true to the vintage and has produed a lineup with warm generosity. The vintage is overall a success, yet I do have some clear favourites.

First is the Vosne-Romanée La Colombiere, and the second and third are the Echezeaux and the Clos de Vougeot – as usual, a close contest.

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