2022 Domaine Prieuré Roch Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Le Clos des Varoilles Monopole

The 2022 Domaine Prieuré Roch Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Le Clos des Varoilles Monopole is one of the most exceptional red Burgundies from Gevrey-Chambertin. This wine comes from a historic monopole of Domaine Prieuré Roch and combines the power and depth of Gevrey with the refined, energetic signature of the estate. In 2022, this results in a wine of impressive tension, aromatic precision, and remarkable freshness for a warm vintage.

Domaine Prieuré Roch and Clos des Varoilles

Domaine Prieuré Roch is one of the most cult estates in Burgundy. Founded by Henry-Frédéric Roch, the house is known for its distinctly unique style, in which biodynamic viticulture, minimal intervention, and an almost intuitive approach to vinification take center stage. Prieuré Roch wines are often pure, lively, and strikingly sensual, with a strong emphasis on texture and terroir expression.

Le Clos des Varoilles is an impressive monopole of approximately 6 hectares in Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru. Its location at the foot of the Combe de Lavaux ensures a cooler microclimate and a natural freshness that is of great value in warm years. According to the estate, this vineyard combines the power and elegance of great Gevrey with exceptional freshness thanks to the specific location of the plot.

A challenging but promising vintage

The 2022 vintage at Clos des Varoilles faced a significant challenge. On June 21, this part of Gevrey was hit by severe thunderstorms with hail, making extremely strict selection necessary. At Domaine Prieuré Roch, therefore, selection was carried out cluster by cluster and even berry by berry to ensure that only healthy fruit was brought into the cellar.

It is precisely thanks to that meticulous selection that the 2022 demonstrates here just how strong the combination of terroir and estate style can be. Despite the warm conditions, the wine retains a striking tension and freshness, something that Clos des Varoilles often manages to hold onto thanks to its location.

Scent, taste and character

The 2022 Clos des Varoilles opens with a refined, expressive nose of raspberry, sour cherry, cranberry, and wild red berries. This is followed by notes of rosehip, warm stone, subtle spices, and the typical spicy signature of Prieuré Roch, enhanced in part by the use of whole clusters.

On the palate, the wine immediately displays its class. The fruit is bright and precise, with a combination of red cherries, raspberries, and cranberries providing liveliness. At the same time, the wine possesses a serious structure and an almost tight tension that gives it length and depth.

The tannins are fine-grained and precise, while the fresh acidity gives the wine energy and focus. Beneath the fruity and floral layers lies a mineral core of limestone and stone that lends the wine extra definition. It is precisely this combination of ripe fruit, tension, and coolness that makes this 2022 particularly convincing.

The finish is long, refined, and mineral, with persistent notes of red cherries, stone fruit, spices, and chalky freshness.

Monopole with its own identity

Clos des Varoilles is not just any extra premier cru in the Prieuré Roch range. The estate is one of the largest monopoles of Gevrey-Chambertin and possesses a style all its own. Whereas some Gevrey 1er Crus rely primarily on power and dark fruit, Clos des Varoilles displays a combination of tension, precision, and striking elegance.

This fits perfectly with the signature of Prieuré Roch, where terroir expression is always more important than extraction or technical perfection. In 2022, this results in a wine that is both serious and refined, with clear aging potential but also an impressive energy already in its youth.

Drinking window and food and wine pairings

The 2022 Domaine Prieuré Roch Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Le Clos des Varoilles Monopole is already fascinating to taste, but will deepen and refine even further with bottle aging. A realistic drinking window lies roughly from 2028 well into the years thereafter, depending on the cellar and personal preference.

Preferably serve this wine at 15 to 16°C.

This Gevrey-Chambertin pairs beautifully with duck breast, guinea fowl, veal, mushroom dishes, pigeon, game poultry, and refined dishes with red fruit or light spice jus. The wine also comes into its own perfectly with classic Burgundian preparations featuring stock- or truffle-based sauces.