The 6.5-hectare Anne Gros estate (she took over for her father, François Gros, in the late-1980s) is, as noted above, studded with vineyard gems and meticulously run by its namesake. The “Les Loächausses” parcel is one of 11 sub-sections of the Échezeaux Grand Cru, with Anne’s parcel measuring just under one hectare. This is a prime, ‘mid-slope’ site, at the “Vosne end” of the vineyard, with stony, well-drained soils rich that allow for deep root penetration and concentrated fruit. 

Anne farms her vineyards according to lutte raisonnée principles, essentially working organically except in extreme emergencies. Grapes for her wines are always hand-harvested, with reds fermented in enamel-lined concrete vats and aged in barrel for 16 months. For the Grand Cru wines, about 80% of these barrels are new.

Because its largest single landowner is the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, the Échezeaux Grand Cru comes with some pretty lofty expectations (DRC’s Échezeaux will run you close to $1,500 per bottle, if you can find it). Especially in 2014, a red Burgundy vintage I can’t stop raving about, Anne Gros not only met expectations but exceeded them in dramatic fashion: In the glass this silken, concentrated Pinot Noir is a deep garnet moving to magenta/ruby at the rim, with intensely perfumed aromas of black cherry blossoms, red and black raspberries, violets, baking spices, cedar, and dark, humid earth. There’s a highly refined elegance coupled with a lush, fine-grained texture that is an Anne Gros signature; the oak influence is noticeable, but not overwhelming, and with time will integrate into the pristine fruit. Overall, it’s a luxurious, very seductive red that can be enjoyed now after 30 minutes in a decanter; serve it at 60-65 degrees in large Burgundy stems (or just pull the cork 3 hours before and skip the decant), but I think the real sweet spot for this wine is still a few years down the line (2020-24, with great drinking through 2030 at least). For those of you who purchased the 2013 vintage of this wine (offered previously), this version takes things up a notch—it’s not so much ‘bigger’ as it is deeper, with greater clarity of fruit. Attached is a spruced-up version of a bistro classic to try with it. Go slowly and savor every sip—this is the best of the best!