Domaine Bouchard Beaune-Greves 'L'enfant Jesus' Lunch

We are absolutely thrilled to include this masterclass lunch in this year’s symposium. First of all, Domaine Bouchard has invested confidence in us by supplying us with this vertical direct from their cellars in Beaune. Secondly, although we often more immediately think of the grands crus of the Côte de Nuits when we think of the highest expressions of red Burgundy, this jewel of the Côte de Beaune has for many decades stood at the same peak. It is an irony today that because the Côte de Beaune reds offer relative value we tend to drink them young as ‘everyday wines’, when in fact the expression of a wine like Beaune-Grèves 1er Cru ‘L’Enfant Jesus’ is not only rewarding of being cellared, it demands it. The drinking window is long, but late. 

The premier cru Grèves vineyard is Beaune’s greatest, and Bouchard’s monopole lieu dit within it — “L’Enfant Jesus” (the baby Jesus) sits at its heart. Here is what Allen Meadows wrote about tasting the 1865 of this wine (that’s right EIGHTEEN sixty five) in 2010:

(perhaps the greatest vintage of the 19th century). Some bricking but still bright ruby at the center. The nose offers stunning elegance and incredible purity with aged aromas that are still vibrant and offer notes of spice, game and a touch of leather followed by remarkably powerful, indeed even muscular middle weight flavors that are superbly well balanced and wonderfully long. With air, the flavors become noticeably less vigorous but there is no loss of complexity. In sum, this is a simply incredible performance for a Beaune 1er. Tasted thrice with consistent notes. 94/100

Today, over lunch, discover for yourself the special quality of this wine.