Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France · France
2018 Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Aux Brulées'
Méo-Camuzet's 2018 Aux Brulées is a premier cru Vosne-Romanée of exquisite sensory complexity — sweet red berries, smoked duck, chalky tannins — in its early window and approaching its 2030 peak.
- Varietal
- Pinot Noir
- Vintage
- 2018
Drinking Window
In 2026: Approaching PeakDrinkable, but best years are ahead. Peak begins 2030.
Right now: In 2026, the 2018 Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brulées has been open since 2025 and is in its early window, a full four years from its projected peak from 2030 through 2045. The wine is showing its characteristic lavish bouquet — sweet red berries, orange rind, and exotic spice — alongside the structured foundation of velvety tannins and succulent acidity that will carry this wine for decades. A serious collector would hold through 2028.
Tasting Note
Deep ruby with a luminous, clear rim. The nose is immediately complex and seductive: sweet red berries and cherries open first, followed by a distinctive orange rind note, smoked duck, and exotic spices that give the wine an almost Burgundy-meets-the-East character. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with velvety tannins that have softened considerably from the vintage's early extraction. Succulent, driving acidity sustains the fruit through a long chalky finish. The Brulées site's famous warmth — one of Vosne's hottest premier crus, directly below Richebourg — is reflected in the wine's generous fruit concentration and sensory richness.
About Méo-Camuzet
Domaine Méo-Camuzet is one of the Côte de Nuits' most celebrated estates, farming exceptional parcels in Vosne-Romanée premier and grand cru sites as well as parcels in Richebourg, Cros Parantoux, and Corton. Jean-Nicolas Méo leads winemaking with a philosophy centered on rigorous sorting, partial whole-cluster fermentation, and aging in Francois Freres barrels — a combination that produces wines of unusual fragrance, freshness, and mid-palate richness. The Aux Brulées premier cru, one of Vosne-Romanée's most thermally advantaged sites, is one of the estate's signature bottlings, consistently delivering the warmth and spice complexity that the hillside site uniquely provides.
Food Pairings
Roasted duck breast with orange gastrique and wild mushroom jus
The wine's orange rind note and smoked duck character find direct echo in duck with citrus reduction, creating a rare resonance between dish and glass that amplifies both.
Roasted pigeon with foie gras and truffle, sauce grand veneur
Game birds with liver richness and truffle match the Brulées site's thermal complexity and the wine's velvety tannins — a grande cuisine pairing where both wine and dish operate at the same register of intensity.
Aged Comté (24 months) with honeycomb and walnuts
The crystalline, nutty richness of aged Comté amplifies the wine's chalky mineral finish, while the honeycomb bridges the sweet red berry fruit and the walnut provides earthy counterbalance.
Service & Cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 59-62°F (15-17°C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, decant 45-60 minutes. The wine is in its early window and benefits from moderate aeration to open the complex aromatic profile — particularly the orange rind and smoked duck notes that require air to fully emerge. From 2030 at peak, 30-45 minutes will be sufficient.
- Cellar Storage
- 55°F (13°C), 65-70% humidity, bottle on its side in darkness.
Frequently Asked
When does the 2018 Méo-Camuzet Aux Brulées reach its peak?
The peak window runs from 2030 through 2045, with a hard decline projected at 2055. In 2026, the wine is in an early window — approachable but showing only the opening chapters of its story. Collectors should hold the majority of any allocation through 2028-2030 for the fullest experience.
What makes Aux Brulées a special premier cru site?
Aux Brulées is one of Vosne-Romanée's most thermally advantaged premier crus, positioned directly below the grand cru Richebourg on the upper slope. The site's natural warmth and excellent drainage produce wines of unusual concentration, spice, and aromatic complexity within the village premier cru tier — regularly approaching grand cru quality at estates like Méo-Camuzet.
How long should I decant this wine?
In 2026, plan for 45-60 minutes to open the aromatic profile — particularly the orange rind, smoked duck, and exotic spice notes. Approaching peak from 2030, 30-45 minutes is appropriate. A wide-bowled Burgundy glass will continue to evolve the wine beautifully over 2-3 hours of drinking.
What is the difference between Méo-Camuzet and Domaine Méo-Camuzet wines?
Domaine Méo-Camuzet refers to wines produced from the estate's own farmed vineyards — including Aux Brulées, Cros Parantoux, and Richebourg — while the 'Maison' label covers négociant wines sourced externally. The Aux Brulées premier cru is a domaine wine, representing the estate's highest-level offering below its grand cru bottlings.
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