AGS Wines is a small company offering some of the fine wines of Burgundy and a fine Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux.
We are agents for Domaine Pierre Bourée Fils.
A vineyard originally founded in Gevrey-Chambertin in 1864, was purchased subsequently by Pierre Bourée a lawyer at the time, in Dijon. In 1903 he purchased another vineyard called La Justice which runs alongside the D974, the main Dijon to Beaune road and gave this vineyard the name 'Clos de la Justice'. In 1922, his son Bernard, whose name still stands proudly over the gates into Clos de la Justice, succeeded him and created the current name of the Domaine. In 1933 he purchased a ¾ ha plot of Grand Cru vineyard in Charmes-Chambertin.
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In 1945, Bernard Bourée began training his nephew, Louis Vallet who then, assisted by his brother Francois, became the director of the Domaine. Together, they enlarged the cellars and winery whilst developing the business outside of Europe. Over time, the number of vineyards were increased: in 1985 with Beaune 1er cru Les Epenottes and in 1993 with Gevry-Chambertin, 1er cru Les Champeaux, then Bourgogne Rouge, Fixin and in 2009, with Bourgogne Blanc.
Two of Louis Vallet's sons, Bernard and Jean-Christophe, now run the Domaine.
Whereas many wines are made to be instantly friendly and easy to appreciate when young, Domaine Pierre Bourée Fils along with many similar Domaines in Burgundy do not follow this philosophy. One has been heard to say "You do not buy Burgundy to drink, you buy it to keep". Even the Domaine's most basic white wine, Bourgogne Blanc, is not available to purchase until it is two years old. The Domaine retains a very traditional style, or as the Vallet's would say, an 'authentic' style.
The Domaine produces wine from on average, 45 different appellations in a good year. Thus Bourée's principal activity is "elevage", the buying of young wines, caring for and blending them, then bringing them to market. To do this close relationships are maintained with the growers whose fruit is desired.
The vines in the Bourée holding in Charmes Chambertin are nearly 75 years old. Those in Les Eponettes, Beaune are 50 years old. The vines in the Clos de la Justice vineyard are between 5 and 40 years old. But it is as the marketers of the fine Burgundy that Pierre Bourée Fils produce, that the Domaine has made such a success in many European markets, together with the United States and Australia.
As Robert Parker has stated, Bourée's premier and grand crus from Gevrey-Chambertin are top notch and their Clos de la Justice is one of Burgundy's perrenial over-achievers. The soil is not the best, but because of old vines and low yields, the wine approaches and even surpasses the quality of some premier and grand crus.
Chateau Lamothe-Cissac, Domaines FABRE, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux
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The 2005 Chateau Lamothe-Cissac selling at £11.50 per bottle was reviewed in the March, 2008 edition of Decanter, along with 155 similar wines. It was given 16.6/20 points and 4*/5*. The comment on the wine was:- 'Lovely promising nose. Plenty of cedar complementing pure, ripe cassis and hints of truffle. Firm, very fine, ripe tannins, concentrated pure fruit and medium-high acidity giving ample freshness. Very long finish. 3-8 vears.'
This Cru Bourgeois is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (26%) and Petit Verdot grapes (4%).Traditionally vinified and aged in oak barrels, this deep coloured wine has dark berry fruit aromas that develop on the palate with plenty of creamy vanilla oak and an enjoyable, long finish. The vineyards of Château Lamothe-Cissac are planted on clay/limestone soils, producing a wine vinified in a traditional manner in order to conserve the power and richness characteristic of the Haut-Médoc. It is matured between 11 and 15 months in oak barrels which gives it a very agreable suppleness. In good years such as 2005, the very prestigious "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" is produced from the older vines. This wine is matured for twelve months in new oak barrels giving a concentrated, complex wine with fine tannins.