Bouchard Pere et Fils
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
2019
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2024-2045).
In 2026 the Bouchard Pere et Fils Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2019 is 2 years into its peak arc, having entered peak maturity in 2024 and running through 2045, with 19 years of prime drinking remaining in the window. This is the second peak year for the 2019 Bouchard Clos Vougeot, and in 2026 the wine is showing the full harmonious expression of what the warm 2019 Burgundy growing season and the grand cru Clos Vougeot terroir deliver together: the cherry-pit and rose-petal aromatics of the 2019 growing season's generous ripeness are balanced by a saline mineral undercurrent that is the signature of Bouchard's parcel within the 50-hectare Clos Vougeot grand cru, and the finer-grained tannins that Bouchard's winemaking approach produces from this site give the 2026 expression an elegance and length that distinguishes the estate's Clos Vougeot from many of the broader, more extracted interpretations from other producers in the same appellation. The wine is fully open and expressive in 2026 at peak year 2, the integration of fruit, mineral, and oak complete, and the longer and more elegant finish that the 2019 vintage's natural acidity retention gives Bouchard's Clos Vougeot is showing at its most precise and persistent. With 19 years of peak remaining, the 2019 Bouchard Clos Vougeot has considerable aging runway ahead and will continue deepening the cherry-pit and rose-petal primary character toward dried cherry, sous-bois, and mineral earth complexity with each passing year through the 2030s and 2040s.
The ‘19 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru.
Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2019, peak yr 2: cherry-pit, rose petal, saline mineral undercurrent, finer-grained tannins. The 2019 warm vintage energy tempered by the grand cru site's mineral precision. 19 years of peak ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The Bouchard Pere et Fils Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2019 presents in a luminous, medium ruby of excellent clarity and generosity, the color reflecting the warm 2019 Burgundy growing season's ripeness while preserving the transparency characteristic of Clos Vougeot Pinot Noir at grand cru quality. The nose opens with cherry-pit aromatics of notable intensity and precision, the primary fruit dimension in the 2019 showing the warm-vintage ripeness in its most focused and least over-extracted form, a cherry character that sits precisely at the intersection of fresh red cherry and the more concentrated cherry-pit quality that distinguishes the finest Clos Vougeot expressions from lighter premier cru Chambolle and Gevrey counterparts. Rose petal adds the floral dimension that the 2019 warm vintage preserved with exceptional grace at Clos Vougeot, a quality that in cooler-vintage Burgundy often shows with greater persistence but in 2019 carries a particular warmth and generosity. On the palate the warm vintage's ripeness is tempered by a saline mineral undercurrent that is the defining quality of Bouchard's parcel within Clos Vougeot and that provides the structural counterweight to the 2019 generous fruit: where many Clos Vougeot 2019 expressions show heavier and broader in body, Bouchard's saline mineral precision gives this particular interpretation a focus and tension that extends the palate length considerably. The finer-grained tannins that Bouchard's winemaking team achieves through careful extraction and a moderate proportion of new French oak are integrated and precise, framing the mid-palate without any roughness, and the finish is longer and more elegant than the 2019 vintage's general warmth might suggest, carrying the cherry-pit and saline mineral complexity through an extended conclusion of considerable precision and grace.
The 2019 vintage
The 2019 Burgundy growing season was warm and early-ripening across the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune, a drought-stressed but ultimately successful vintage that produced wines of considerable generosity and immediate accessibility while retaining the natural acidity that the best Burgundy sites preserve even in hot years through their limestone-rich soils and favorable elevation. The summer of 2019 was characterized by prolonged heat through July and August, with drought stress reducing yields naturally across the Clos Vougeot grand cru and concentrating the remaining fruit on the vine. The early harvest, beginning in late August and early September for the most advanced sites, captured the 2019 vintage at its most harmonious point: phenolically ripe, naturally concentrated by drought stress, and with acidity preserved by the cool nights that Burgundy's continental climate delivers through the growing season. At Clos Vougeot specifically, the 50-hectare grand cru's mid-slope parcels with clay-limestone soils showed the 2019 warm vintage through a mineral lens that moderated the generous ripeness and gave wines more elegance and saline tension than might be expected from the headline growing conditions. Wine Spectator awarded the 2019 Burgundy vintage 95 Classic and highlighted the combination of generous fruit, natural concentration from drought stress, and preserved acid structure as defining characteristics of the finest expressions from the Cote de Nuits.
About Bouchard Pere et Fils
Bouchard Pere et Fils is one of Burgundy's largest and most historically significant domaine and negociant houses, with origins dating to 1731 and ownership by the Henriot family since 1995, a change in stewardship that initiated a sustained quality elevation program across the estate's extensive grand cru and premier cru holdings. The estate owns approximately 130 hectares of vineyards across Burgundy's finest appellations, including significant holdings in Clos Vougeot, Le Corton, Chevalier-Montrachet, and Montrachet, and technical director Frederic Weber leads a winemaking team that emphasizes low intervention, whole-cluster fermentation for structural complexity, and minimal new oak proportions that allow the terroir and vintage character to express over oak influence. The Bouchard approach at Clos Vougeot specifically targets the finer-grained tannin structure and saline mineral precision that distinguishes the finest expressions of the grand cru from the broader, more extracted interpretations that the 50-hectare appellation's diversity of producers delivers: lower extraction, longer gentle maceration, and careful parcel selection within the grand cru produce a Clos Vougeot that prioritizes elegance and length over raw power.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted Bresse chicken with morel mushrooms, tarragon, and cream sauce over pomme dauphine
The Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2019's cherry-pit, rose-petal, and saline mineral character finds its most natural expression alongside roasted Bresse chicken; morel mushrooms amplify the mineral undercurrent and tarragon bridges the wine's floral dimension with the sauce's cream richness without overwhelming the finer-grained tannins.
Roasted rack of venison with redcurrant and juniper sauce, celeriac puree, and roasted root vegetables
The 2019 warm vintage's generous cherry-pit intensity and the saline mineral undercurrent carry the structural weight for the gaminess and richness of venison; redcurrant sauce mirrors the primary fruit dimension and juniper adds the herbal bridge that amplifies the wine's rose-petal aromatic lift.
Duck confit with cherry and sous-bois reduction, lentilles du Puy, and wilted arugula
The 2019 Clos Vougeot's warm-vintage richness and precise finer-grained tannins are calibrated for duck confit's density without requiring the structural weight of Gevrey grand cru; cherry reduction mirrors the primary fruit and sous-bois echoes the tertiary character already developing at peak year 2.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 59-62F (15-17C)
- Decanting
- Decant 20 to 30 minutes in 2026 at peak year 2. The Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2019's cherry-pit and rose-petal aromatics are fully open and expressive at this stage of peak development; the saline mineral undercurrent and finer-grained tannins benefit from light aeration that opens the wine's full aromatic complexity and integrates the oak frame without diminishing the precision that is the wine's defining quality. Serve in a wide-bowled Burgundy glass at 59 to 62F.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Clos Vougeot, Burgundy
Frequently Asked
Is Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2019 ready to drink in 2026?
Yes: the 2019 is 2 years into its peak arc in 2026, with 19 years of prime drinking remaining through 2045. The cherry-pit and rose-petal aromatics are fully open and expressive, the saline mineral undercurrent is showing at its most precise, and the finer-grained tannins are integrated and harmonious. Decant 20 to 30 minutes and serve at 59 to 62F in a wide Burgundy glass. See the [Burgundy region guide](/wines/region/burgundy) for 2019 vintage context across Cote de Nuits grand crus.
What makes Clos Vougeot Grand Cru special?
Clos Vougeot is the largest grand cru in the Cote de Nuits at approximately 50 hectares, the walled vineyard established by the Cistercian monks of Citeaux in the 12th century and historically one of Burgundy's most celebrated sites. The grand cru's limestone and clay soils on the mid-slope above Vougeot village produce Pinot Noir of considerable depth and mineral complexity; the saline, earthy mineral character of the finest Clos Vougeot parcels is distinctive within the Cote de Nuits and distinguishes the appellation from the more floral Chambolle to the north and the more masculine Gevrey-Chambertin to the south. Quality varies significantly across the 50 hectares; parcel location within the grand cru is the primary determinant of expression.
How does the 2019 Bouchard Clos Vougeot compare to the 2018?
The 2019 is lighter-structured and more energetic than the 2018, with cherry-pit and rose-petal aromatics showing greater freshness and a saline mineral undercurrent that provides more tension than the 2018's ample dark cherry and plum generosity. The 2018 is a broader, richer, and more hedonistic expression of Clos Vougeot; the 2019 prioritizes mineral precision, finer-grained tannins, and a longer and more elegant finish that reflects the cool nights and early-harvested acidity retention of that growing season. See the [Pinot Noir varietal guide](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir) for varietal comparison context.
How long will Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2019 age?
Peak runs through 2045 with hard decline after 2054, giving 19 years of prime drinking from 2026. The 2019's natural acidity retention and saline mineral structure give it strong longevity through the full peak arc. Those with multiple bottles can open the first in 2026 at peak year 2 and pace consumption through the 2030s and 2040s, watching the cherry-pit and rose-petal primary character deepen toward dried cherry and sous-bois complexity with extended aging.
What other Bouchard wines should I explore alongside the 2019 Clos Vougeot?
The Bouchard Clos Vougeot 2018 published on cellared.ai offers a warmer-vintage comparison in the same appellation: the 2018 delivers dark cherry and plum richness versus the 2019's cherry-pit and saline mineral precision. Within the broader Cote de Nuits grand cru context, the Robert Groffier Les Amoureuses 2021 in Chambolle-Musigny offers a more floral and ethereal premier cru comparison to Clos Vougeot's mineral depth, and the Maison Leroy Vosne-Romanee 2017 provides a village-level Leroy comparison to Bouchard's grand cru Burgundy approach.