Clos de Vougeot Royalty: Méo-Camuzet Grand Cru Burgundy
Burgundy Icon, Centuries in the Making
Few domaines in Burgundy inspire as much reverence as Domaine Méo-Camuzet. Nestled in the heart of Vosne-Romanée, this historic estate is one of the crown jewels of the Côte d’Or — a name synonymous with power, elegance, and authenticity. With 14 hectares across some of the most legendary vineyards in the region, Méo-Camuzet is one of the rare domaines able to bottle six separate Grand Crus, including Richebourg, Échezeaux, and the iconic Clos de Vougeot.
From Politics to Perfection
The story of Méo-Camuzet is as layered as its wines. The domaine’s founder, Étienne Camuzet, was both a passionate vigneron and a French parliamentarian representing the Côte d’Or. Because of his political duties in Paris, he entrusted his prized vineyards to local sharecroppers (known as métayeurs) — a tradition that sustained the domaine for decades.
When the estate eventually passed to his relative Jean Méo, who also served in Charles de Gaulle’s cabinet, the vines remained under the care of tenants. But in the early 1980s, the next generation — Jean-Nicolas Méo — changed everything. Rather than continuing the long-standing sharecropper model, he began reclaiming the family’s vineyards for estate bottling and ushered in a new era for Méo-Camuzet.
Guiding him through this transformation was none other than Henri Jayer, widely regarded as one of the greatest winemakers in Burgundy’s history. Jayer had been cultivating Méo-Camuzet parcels for over 40 years under his own label and agreed to mentor Jean-Nicolas for three crucial vintages before retiring in 1988. His influence — the pursuit of purity, precision, and texture — still defines the Méo-Camuzet style today.
Clos de Vougeot — Burgundy’s Holy Ground
The Clos de Vougeot vineyard has been revered for nearly a millennium. Originally farmed by Cistercian monks, it remains one of Burgundy’s most storied and diverse climats. Méo-Camuzet’s holdings come from the Grand Mapertuis and Près du Cellier sections — parcels known for their perfect balance of limestone and clay, producing wines of both structure and sensuality.
The 2016 Vintage — Beauty Born from Adversity
The 2016 growing season was a test of resilience across Burgundy. A late spring frost devastated yields, reducing Méo-Camuzet’s crop by nearly a quarter. But what remained was extraordinary: small, concentrated berries that gave rise to wines of breathtaking intensity and elegance.
The 2016 Méo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru delivers a symphony of aromas — ripe red cherry, black plum, rose petal, and exotic spice — underpinned by the mineral tension that defines the finest Burgundies. On the palate, it’s layered, silky, and impeccably balanced, with a finish that seems to go on forever.
Already seductive today, this Grand Cru will continue to evolve, revealing ever more nuance and depth with time.
Why It Belongs in Every Cellar
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From one of Burgundy’s most revered domaines, mentored by Henri Jayer
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Crafted from prime parcels within Clos de Vougeot, Burgundy’s most historic Grand Cru
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Low-yield 2016 vintage = concentration and longevity
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Best pricing in the U.S. and sourced with trusted provenance
Clos de Vougeot is shared by many growers, but few interpret it with the finesse and authority of Méo-Camuzet. This 2016 bottling captures everything that defines great Burgundy — history, purity, and soul — in a single glass.