93pts Robert Parker

The 2016 Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru has more richness and intensity than the Corton-Bressandes at this early stage, with layers of black cherry and raspberry coulis, brown spices and sous-bois surfacing with time. There is certainly good complexity here. The palate is fresh and detailed on the entry, fine-grained tannin, well-judged acidity and a lively, judiciously spiced finish that feels long and caressing. Bon vin. [Neal Martin, 12/05/2017] Anticipated maturity: 2021-2040

91-93 pts Vinous

Full ruby-red. Darker and more reticent on the nose than the Bressandes, conveying a stronger element of stony minerality and a note of licorice. Then vivacious and sharply delineated in the mouth but much more closed than the Bressandes owing to its mineral energy. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and excellent grip. Very classy juice! [Stephen Tanzer, 01/01/2018]

Winemaker Notes

An historic walled plot located above Corton-Bressandes, Clos du Roi is full, broad and intense.  Intense garnet red color, a spicy nose with hints of pepper, clove, a dense and powerful mouth of mature fruit; extreme elegance. 

About the Winery

Domaine de la Pousse d’Or has for decades been the collector’s choice for expressive and memorable wines from Burgundy’s most hallowed terroirs. This historic estate is one of the Burgundian elite, in a similar realm of such exclusive wineries like Romanée-Conti and Comte de Vogüé, with its strict selection and seamless winemaking. The history of Pousse d’Or in Volnay underscores its influence throughout the ages. In 1855, the winery was part of a larger domaine that included such names as Romanée-Conti and Clos de Tart. Originally called La Bousse d’Or (Bousse, in old French, means earth; thus, “golden earth”), the Domaine changed owners a number of times until legend Gérard Potel took the reins. It was Potel that put the estate’s wines on the map, with the elegant, refined style that Pousse d’Or is still known for today. In 1997, Patrick Landanger purchased the winery and its vineyards. In the mid-2000s, Landanger added an impressive collection of Côte de Nuits vineyards (from Domaine Moine-Hudelot) to his portfolio. Pousse d’Or has three premier cru monopoles, or exclusively estate-owned vineyards, in Volnay: ‘Clos de la Bousse d’Or,’ ‘Clos des Soixante (60)-Ouvrées’ and ‘Clos d’Audignac.’ Pousse’s attention to detail and dedication to organic viticulture (the estate is not certified but has followed organic principles for years) is serious. Vineyards are cared for without the use of pesticides or herbicides and are regularly plowed. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and bunches are destemmed and fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks. Wines are aged from 15 to 18 months in French oak barrels, with between 30 to 50 percent new wood, depending on the cru. In recent vintages, Landanger has been experimenting with terracotta amphorae for aging some of his premier cru wines. All wines are bottled by gravity and are unfined and unfiltered.