2023 Clos de Vougeot and Clos de Beze on Direct Allocation

Now you can invest in two different renowned Grand Crus from Burgundy. These wines are built on six generations of work in the vineyards and come directly from the domain’s cellar on direct allocation. The wines in question are Clos de Beze and Clos de Vougeot, and you can read much more about the case below.

One Domain, Six Generations, 46% Grand Cru

Since 1850, the name Laroze has been synonymous with winemaking in Gevrey-Chambertin. It was here that Jean-Baptiste Laroze started his domain – in the heart of the red wine mecca of Gevrey-Chambertin. Jean-Baptiste was later succeeded by his son Félix, who was then followed by his daughter Suzanne. In 1919, Suzanne married Alexandre Drouhin, who owned land in Chambolle-Musigny, and the domain we now know as Drouhin-Laroze was born.

Since then, under the skilled leadership of six generations of Drouhins, the domain has grown into an institution in the region, producing both negociant wine under the name Maison Laroze de Drouhin (own production from purchased grapes) while fruit from their own vineyards is used for Domaine Drouhin-Laroze.

Today, Philippe and Christine Drouhin run the property, which spans 11.5 hectares of beautiful vineyards. Around 50,000 bottles of wine are produced here each year, with approximately 46% being Grand Cru, 14% Premier Cru, and the remaining 40% Village wines.

Drouhin-Laroze is not part of the absolute Burgundy elite, which is also clearly reflected in the price, but on the global wine scene, we can confidently call them elite. This includes being present in the right vineyards such as Musigny, Bonnes-Mares, Chambertin-Clos de Beze, and Clos de Vougeot – two of which you now have the opportunity to invest in – directly allocated, of course.

The New 2023 Vintage In Burgundy: A Charming Year With Broad Appeal And Potential

2023 is a vigneron’s vintage – a year where skilled producers with a focus on quality had the opportunity to create wines with charm, freshness, and balance. Despite high yields, which are often associated with diluted and characterless wines, the vintage shows that high volume does not necessarily compromise quality – particularly in the modern era, where maturity and precision in the vineyard play a larger role than ever before.

It is a generous vintage, but that doesn’t mean there will be an oversupply of wine on the market: Classifications and regulations still set an upper limit on how much wine can be produced in the various appellations, and top producers get the chance to demonstrate how they can work magic with good fruit through techniques such as pruning and green harvesting.

The white wines are sunny and dominated by yellow fruit, without tipping into the tropical – balanced by freshness and acidity, particularly thanks to calcareous soils and the absence of extreme heatwaves. The red wines are the big surprise: They combine maturity with a classic, red-fruited finesse, transparency, and energy, making them ideal for drinking young, yet with enough structure to age gracefully. However, there is variation, and the quality largely depends on the producer's decisions during the season's challenges – including the somewhat paradoxical challenge of having (potentially) an abundance of fruit.

2023 is not a monumental vintage, but it is extremely charming, approachable, and will undoubtedly evolve into a highly favorable value-for-money purchase for future wine lovers.

Two Great Grand Cru Wines - Directly From The Domain's Cellar

For several years, we have had an excellent collaboration with Domaine Drouhin-Laroze, which has included direct allocation of the domain's top wines - wines that you now have the opportunity to add to the portfolio. These are the new 2023 Chambertin-Clos de Beze and 2023 Clos de Vougeot, which you can read more about below:

2023 Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Chambertin-Clos de Beze:

Chambertin-Clos de Beze belongs to the exclusive group of only 33 Grand Cru appellations in Burgundy and, contrary to what many believe, is actually older than the Chambertin vineyard. In fact, Monks from the nearby Beze monastery have been cultivating wine here since the year 630.

The vineyard spans 15.39 hectares, with Drouhin-Laroze producing from a 1.5-hectare parcel with vines planted in 1949. From this parcel, a maximum of 7,400 bottles can be produced per vintage.

As mentioned earlier, 2023 has not turned out to be a monumental vintage in Burgundy, and this naturally applies to Drouhin-Laroze as well. The 2023 Clos de Beze received 89-92 points from Burghound and has been sparsely rated by Wine Advocate, including the 2023 vintage. On the other hand, Vinous is more impressed, awarding it 95-97 points. 89-92 points from Burghound is not low – he is very strict. Meanwhile, 95-97 points from Vinous are quite high.

Vinous has never given a higher score than 95-97.

The 2020 vintage also received 95-97 points from Vinous, and the average market price since its release in 2022 has increased by 23.8%.

As of now, the lowest price on wine-searcher.com across the five available offers is €218^*. The average price is €232^*.

Your investment price is €185^*.

2023 Drouhin-Laroze Clos de Vougeot

Clos de Vougeot, like Clos de Beze, is part of the prestigious club of Grand Cru vineyards. Clos de Vougeot was founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks from the Citeaux monastery. It is the largest contiguous Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy, and its approximately 50 hectares are still surrounded by the original medieval stone wall, from which the "clos" in Clos de Vougeot derives.

Drouhin-Laroze produces from a 1-hectare parcel here, with the oldest vines planted in 1976. A maximum of 4,933 bottles can be produced per vintage.

Quality-wise, the story is quite similar to the previous one: Burghound has awarded the 2023 Clos de Vougeot 90-92 points, while Vinous also grants it 95-97 points. Wine Advocate has also provided limited ratings for Clos de Vougeot.

95-97 is also the highest score Vinous has given for this wine.

In terms of quality, the 2023 vintage resembles the 2019 vintage, which received 94-96 points from Vinous. According to wine-searcher.com, the average market price for the 2019 vintage has increased by 32.1% since its release in 2021.

As of now, the lowest price for the 2023 Clos de Vougeot among the five available offers on wine-searcher.com is €218^*, while the average price is €232^*.

Your investment price is €160^*.

RareWine Invest’s Opinion

Here you have the opportunity to invest in red Burgundy from famous Grand Cru vineyards, from a highly respected producer, and at an incredibly attractive price.

You should not invest in these Grand Cru wines from Drouhin-Laroze if you are looking for a potential rocket of a price increase where the price suddenly skyrockets. You should invest in Drouhin-Laroze’s Grand Crus if you believe in the fundamental drivers of Burgundy wine investment; that the limited supply cannot meet the growing demand.

Granted, Drouhin-Laroze’s Clos Vougeot cannot compare to Leroy’s, just as their Clos de Beze is not on the same level as Armand Rousseau’s, but the prices are incredibly reasonable; these are, in an international perspective, fantastic wines that will do well both young and as they mature. At the same time, the price level is one where many wine lovers, restaurants, and wine bars can participate – resulting in significant consumption.

When you also have the opportunity to invest through direct allocation, the case becomes even more exciting.

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