La Grande Rue
Encyclopedia
La Grande Rue is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée
(AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard
for red wine in the Côte de Nuits
subregion of Burgundy
, with Pinot Noir
as the main grape variety.
, but is more delicate. "The overall style is fruity with fresh, red fruit aromas and gentle tannins ...Young it shows a promising note of petits fruits rouges and hints of blackcurrant. These positive, complex aromas overlay a wine of diomension and substance, with length and finesse; a complete wine without being in any way heavy." It can contain "nuances of raspberry and violet",with a bouquet of "a profusion of flowers" "It gains from being decanted and often delivers wild game aromas ... Age embellishes it"
and is a monopole
of Domaine Lamarche
. It is shaped as a narrow strip running in the east-west direction down the fall-line of the slope, betweenLa Tâche
and "les Gaudichots" to the south, and, separated by a narrow road, Aux Reignots, La Romanée
, Romanée-Conti
, and Romanée-Saint-Vivant
to the north; it borders "aux Champs Perdix" upslope to the west. The grand cru appellation occupies an area of 1.6525 hectares, 1.4207 in the historic lieu-dit Grande Rue,and parcels of .2096h and .0222h in "les Gaudichots". The vineyard was principally planted in 1896, 1939, and 1968; 4 ouvrées were torn out in 1950 and again in 1981, 20 in 1968-9.
"François' philosophy was that a fine wine ... should maximize finesse rather than matière; that tannins and stuffing should take second place to charm and elegance ... cuvées rarely passed 13° ... Nicole has made a few changes, notably a longer pre-fermentation cold maceration, made possible by the purchase of better cooling equipment. Fermentationstill takes place in open wooden cuves ... the ideal temperature remains low at 28° and cuvaison lasts on average 12-15 days. The wines areaged for 18-20 months in cask and only racked if reductive aromas develop. They are bottled without fining or filtration ... The amount of new oak is under review. Recently, 100% new barrels have been used in good years; much less in lighter vintages"
Annual production is around 8000 bottles. In 2008, 1.65 hectares (4.1 acre) of vineyard surface was in production within the AOC, and 52 hectoliters of wine was produced, corresponding to just under 7,000 bottles.
When the other traditionally top-rated vineyards of Vosne-Romanée were being classified in the 1930s as the AOC system was introduced, owner Henri Lamarche did not apply for Grand Cru status and La Grande Rue therefore remained a Premier Cru: "the explanation is that when the official classification was drawn up he believed there was nothing to be gained except perhaps increased taxes ... the domaine [François Lamarche from 1985] finally succeeded after a long and persistent campaign in persuading the authorities to reclassify it as grand cru, chiefly on the ground that it shares the same soil band as its neighbours"The Great Domaines of Burgundy by Remington Norman & Charles Taylor, Kyle Cathie, 2010, p. 69INAO
approved the dossier on 8–9 November 1989 andbut due to a political delay the actual decree did not go into effect until 8 July 1992. Promotion was retroactive to the 1991 vintage
After producing "splendid wines" in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, "standards declined in the later years of Henri Lamarche" (from 1973-1984), "and it took François time to turn things around, in particular by reducing yields" He ran the domaine from 1985 till retiring in 2006 in favour of his daughter, Nicole, and his sister's daughter, Nathalie.
, Pinot Blanc
and Pinot Gris
as accessory grapes, but this is practically never used for any Burgundy Grand Cru vineyard. The allowed base yield
is 35 hectoliter per hectare, a minimum planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare and a minium grape maturity of 11.5 per cent potential alcohol is required.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
for red wine in the Côte de Nuits
Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits is a French wine region located in the northern part of the Côte d'Or, the limestone ridge that is at the heart of the Burgundy wine region. It extends from Dijon to just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, which gives its name to the district and is the regional center...
subregion of Burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
, with Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
as the main grape variety.
Wine style
In general its character is feminine rather than powerful, but it has some of the character of the neighbouring La TâcheLa Tâche
La Tâche is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, but is more delicate. "The overall style is fruity with fresh, red fruit aromas and gentle tannins ...Young it shows a promising note of petits fruits rouges and hints of blackcurrant. These positive, complex aromas overlay a wine of diomension and substance, with length and finesse; a complete wine without being in any way heavy." It can contain "nuances of raspberry and violet",with a bouquet of "a profusion of flowers" "It gains from being decanted and often delivers wild game aromas ... Age embellishes it"
Geographicay, Cultivation, Winemaking, and Production
It is situated within the commune of Vosne-RomanéeVosne-Romanée
Vosne-Romanée is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in Burgundy in eastern France.-Population:-Wine:It produces the region's most celebrated wines, all made entirely from the Pinot Noir grape: "There can be little doubt that in the firmament of the Cote de nuits, Vosne-Romanée is the brightest...
and is a monopole
Monopole (wine)
A monopole is an area controlled by a single winery and can be as small as a lieu-dit or as large as an entire appellation d'origine contrôlée, such as Bordeaux or Champagne. Frequently this is mentioned on the label and it is rare for only one winery to produce all the wine from an area...
of Domaine Lamarche
Domaine Lamarche
Domaine Lamarche is winery in the Burgundian village of Vosne-Romanée. The domaine was founded in 1797.Its vineyard holdings include Clos Vougeot, Echezeaux, Grands Echezeaux, and the monopole La Grande Rue....
. It is shaped as a narrow strip running in the east-west direction down the fall-line of the slope, betweenLa Tâche
La Tâche AOC
La Tâche is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot Noir as the main grape variety. It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanée and is a monopole of the winery Domaine de la Romanée-Conti...
and "les Gaudichots" to the south, and, separated by a narrow road, Aux Reignots, La Romanée
La Romanée
La Romanée is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot Noir as the main grape variety. It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanée and is a monopole of the winery Comte Liger-Belair...
, Romanée-Conti
Romanée-Conti
Romanée-Conti is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot Noir as the sole grape variety. It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanée and is a monopole of the winery Société Civile du Domaine de la...
, and Romanée-Saint-Vivant
Romanée-Saint-Vivant
Romanée-Saint-Vivant is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot Noir as the main grape variety. It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanée...
to the north; it borders "aux Champs Perdix" upslope to the west. The grand cru appellation occupies an area of 1.6525 hectares, 1.4207 in the historic lieu-dit Grande Rue,and parcels of .2096h and .0222h in "les Gaudichots". The vineyard was principally planted in 1896, 1939, and 1968; 4 ouvrées were torn out in 1950 and again in 1981, 20 in 1968-9.
"François' philosophy was that a fine wine ... should maximize finesse rather than matière; that tannins and stuffing should take second place to charm and elegance ... cuvées rarely passed 13° ... Nicole has made a few changes, notably a longer pre-fermentation cold maceration, made possible by the purchase of better cooling equipment. Fermentationstill takes place in open wooden cuves ... the ideal temperature remains low at 28° and cuvaison lasts on average 12-15 days. The wines areaged for 18-20 months in cask and only racked if reductive aromas develop. They are bottled without fining or filtration ... The amount of new oak is under review. Recently, 100% new barrels have been used in good years; much less in lighter vintages"
Annual production is around 8000 bottles. In 2008, 1.65 hectares (4.1 acre) of vineyard surface was in production within the AOC, and 52 hectoliters of wine was produced, corresponding to just under 7,000 bottles.
History
"It owes its name to the path that runs alongside it and which climbs up the plateau. The singular configuration of this place name undoubtedly results from a property having been long ago hemmed in by others ...The archives note 22 ouvrées in La Grande Rue belonging to Richard de Chissey (1450)... these same in 1771 belonging to the family Lamy de Samerey. At this period the Abbé Courtépée cites it as among 'the most distinguished vineyards' of Vosne, at the quality level of Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Varoilles, Tache, Malconsorts and other Echézeaux. ... Dr Lavalle in 1855 ranks it among the first Cuvées behind the Tetes de cuvée, limited to Romanée-Conti, La Romanée, La Tache,and Richebourg, equal to Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Varoilles-sous-Richebourg, Gaudichots, Malconsorts, Suchots. It appears in the 1st Classe (the highest) on the map of the Agricultural Committee of Beaune in 1860" In 1876 it became the property of the Liger-Belair family who sold it at auction to the Lamarche family in 1933, who in turn made it a wedding present to Henri Lamarche. "The original vineyard covered 1.3295 hectares according to Dr Lavalle in 1855. This was more or less the historic, immemorial vineyard. This increased a bit since ensemble ...[sold] to the Lamarche family" was 1.5479 ha.When the other traditionally top-rated vineyards of Vosne-Romanée were being classified in the 1930s as the AOC system was introduced, owner Henri Lamarche did not apply for Grand Cru status and La Grande Rue therefore remained a Premier Cru: "the explanation is that when the official classification was drawn up he believed there was nothing to be gained except perhaps increased taxes ... the domaine [François Lamarche from 1985] finally succeeded after a long and persistent campaign in persuading the authorities to reclassify it as grand cru, chiefly on the ground that it shares the same soil band as its neighbours"The Great Domaines of Burgundy by Remington Norman & Charles Taylor, Kyle Cathie, 2010, p. 69INAO
Institut National des Appellations d'Origine
The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine is the French organization charged with regulating French agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin . Controlled by the French government, it forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture...
approved the dossier on 8–9 November 1989 andbut due to a political delay the actual decree did not go into effect until 8 July 1992. Promotion was retroactive to the 1991 vintage
After producing "splendid wines" in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, "standards declined in the later years of Henri Lamarche" (from 1973-1984), "and it took François time to turn things around, in particular by reducing yields" He ran the domaine from 1985 till retiring in 2006 in favour of his daughter, Nicole, and his sister's daughter, Nathalie.
AOC regulations
The main grape variety for La Grande Rue is Pinot Noir. The AOC regulations also allow up to 15 per cent total of ChardonnayChardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produced white fruit....
and Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
as accessory grapes, but this is practically never used for any Burgundy Grand Cru vineyard. The allowed base yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
is 35 hectoliter per hectare, a minimum planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare and a minium grape maturity of 11.5 per cent potential alcohol is required.