Tasted high up in the Clos de Haute-Combe – for the last time! – with Vincent Audras, 12 February 2024.
Vincent Audras
Clos de Haute-Combe
69840 Juliénas
Tel: +33 4 74 04 41 09
www.closdehautecombe.fr
More reports with Domaine Vincent Audras
It took 5 years of searching for the right solution, but Vincent is now retired – after 46 vintages.
Emmanuel Sainson from the family of Domaine Sainson-Rossignol in Volnay, who has been working in the south of France, learning Biodynamics Gerard Bertrand has now made his home in Le Rochepot. He has 6 horses which he used to work the vines of multiple domaines. ‘I too worked the vines here with horses before I got my first tractor’ says Vincent. Emmanuel took the last crop from here to vinify everything in Le Rochpot and Vincent will still live with his wife in his house in the Haute Combe. ‘I was organic in spirit though not on paper but Emanuel has started the paper conversion.‘
Vincent on 2022:
“So, 2022 is the last vintage here: Easier – as we had frost and hail in 2021 – though we still had the canicule on our plain-south facing hillside – so I only made 25 hl/ha on average – but I like the quality. Despite some higher degrees, those higher alcohols are well hidden and we have the impression of freshness. The last bottling was done in October.”
The wines…
It’s been a pleasure to visit Vincent over the last, nearly 10 years. He signs off with a couple of very good wines – and wish him well for the future. Next year a visit to La Rochepot?!
2022 Encore et en corps un Juliénas
Here is some aromatic bulk, some volume, to this darkly spiced wine. Powerful, with depth of flavour, the finish becoming more direct, melting and mouth-watering – I like the finish a lot already but for the rest of the wine I’d be waiting 3-4 years. Still, it’s very good, and 14° apparently…
2022 Juliénas Clos de Haute Combe Tradition
The classic cuvée – the assembly of all the vine locations of the domaine
Much wider, still very dark fruit – also spiced but less overtly. A subtle bead of gas but then a more open and more fluid middle and finishing style. There’s also some structure to wait for here – 2-3 years – but this is a wine that you could very easily attack already, finishing with a suggestion of seriousness but not too much. I think it will be very good.