2018 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée Burgundy France 750 ml

Vosne-Romanée is ground zero for Pinot Noir collectors worldwide. Home to the hallowed La Tâche, Richebourg, and Romanée-Conti vineyards, the region’s prestige is unrivalled—which is why we’re thrilled to bring you one of Vosne-Romanée’s top village bottlings of 2018. 

The 2018 Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée is one of the very few great values from this land of four- and even five-digit price tags, and we were taken aback by its power and beauty from the moment we pulled the cork. The rich black-fruited nose, the seamless texture with its crushed mineral element, and the long, expansive finish… 

We couldn’t agree on the last time we’d tasted a village-level Burgundy with this kind of regal bearing, but we were unanimous on one thing: This bottle succeeds at capturing the glory of Vosne-Romanée—and does it for a humble two-digit price. 

“Intense and beautiful,” is how Decanter described Grivot’s 2018s, and they called this one “one of the best Vosne-Romanée village reds” of the season—a season that has drawn comparisons to the legendary 1947. We call it one of the Burgundy must-haves of the year, a bottle fit for a cellar full of Grands Crus, but bearing a price that will tempt you to bring it out on a whim. 

Pinot lovers from all over the world have made pilgrimages to Vosne-Romanée to set eyes upon its sacred soil and contemplate its magic. It was certainly one of our first stops when we had a couple hours to spare before meeting with the Grivot family. Gazing out from a little stone wall perch in the revered La Tâche Grand Cru, we marveled over the vines that had inspired generations of winemakers—and enthralled centuries of wine lovers. 

The Grivot family has been rooted in Vosne for six generations, and exemplifies how Burgundian family succession can guarantee steadfast quality. Jean Grivot was among the first in Burgundy to estate-bottle in the 1950s. It was Étienne who then modernized their approach and advanced their reputation for pristine, polished wine. After 30 years, he passed the torch to his daughter Mathilde, who brings fresh eyes to the family’s well-tested traditions.

One of the most notable aspects of the Grivot method is complete destemming. Étienne always favored the technique to make reds of finesse and fleshy fruit character—traits he and Mathilde further showcase by aging their Pinot in just 20-25% new oak. In 2018, those choices—and picking at the perfect time during the one of the warmest vintages this century has seen—resulted in a wine that sings with ripe red fruit and floral notes, while maintaining striking depth and delectable freshness. 

The phenomenal 2018 vintage offers so much pleasure right now, but this bottle’s velvety, structured tannins assure us that this wine will thrive in the cellar for years to come. Considering that you can easily take home six bottles (or even more) for the price of one of Vosne-Romanée’s sacred Grands Crus, this is a red Burgundy to pack away, and revisit every few years.