The history of Labouré-Roi is closely linked to that of Nuits-Saint-Georges, in the heart of the iconic Côte de Nuits. Founded in 1832, Labouré-Roi is today one of the most respected names in Burgundy.

These historical roots in the heart of one of the most fragmented and exacting wine-producing regions in the world have shaped a philosophy focused on excellence and discovery. For nearly 200 years, Labouré-Roi has enabled wine lovers from all over the world to access the prestigious appellations of these legendary vineyards.

VIRÉ-CLESSÉ 2021

click on one of the vintages below for further information

2021   2022   2023  

100% Chardonnay.

Colour: yellow gold with light green highlights.

Nose: sparkling, reminiscent of yellow fruit and quince paste on a background of fresh almonds.

Palate: refreshing, with notes of grapefruit, and generous with notes of fruit paste. The finish is mineral, very representative of the terroir.

Simply enjoy as an aperitif. It can also be served with terrines and dishes in sauce, such as veal marengo or steamed fish. For cheese, pair with a piece of Comté or goat's cheese.

Ideally serve between 11°C and 13°C (52-55°F).

This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for the next three to five years.

Viré-Clessé, first Village appellation made from the outstanding terroirs of the AOC Mâcon-Villages, covers the communes of Viré and Clessé in southern Burgundy, between Tournus and Mâcon.

The cru is made up of two north-south slopes, bounded by the Bourbonne and Mouge valleys. They are made up of Bajocian limestone with entrocitic deposits and Oxfordian (Jurassic) marl-limestone strata. Other soils at the bottom of the slopes are made up of clay with ‘chailles’ (sandstone pebbles), facing east and well drained.

The vineyards, on clay-limestone soils, face east and south-east, on steep slopes at an altitude of 200-400 metres.

The grapes are gently pressed to extract the highest quality juice possible. The resulting must is placed in a temperature-controlled vat for settling (12 to 24 hours). This settling operation is crucial in our quest for aromatic purity. The must is then racked and placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (16-18°C) for alcoholic fermentation.

Ageing in stainless steel vats on the lees (80%) and in oak barrels (20%) for 8 to 10 months.

Nature certainly set a challenge for the winegrower and the winemaker with this vintage.

It began with very warm temperatures at the end of February which led to an early bud break. The historic frost in April then destroyed young shoots that had emerged too early, significantly affecting the future harvest. Changing weather continued to characterize the vintage through to the harvests.

There were spells of rain from May to mid-August, obliging winegrowers to be constantly on the alert. The only periods of relative calm were during flowering, which took place in good conditions for the formation of the future fruit, and the “Véraison” (color change), which benefited from the return of the sun from mid-August.

The vagaries of the weather contributed to the development of outbreaks of disease, which were contained thanks to the tireless efforts of our winegrowers. In spite of this, considerable sacrifices had to be made to ensure a high level of quality, and rigorous sorting of the fruit in the vineyard and on arrival at the winery was necessary.

This vintage also required a major technical effort. The vinification had to be carried out with meticulous attention and precision. We took particular care over the extraction of coloring matter, the balance of the structure and the aromatic expression of our red wines, and of the freshness, balance of acidity and aromatic potential of our white wines.

From the first tastings, this vintage presented excellent flavour and aroma potential, and the balance of acidity was contained. The wines are less sunny, revealing a more moderate character, lighter in terms of alcohol and in tannic structure. These are wines that will assert their personalities by offering a diverse palette of flavours and textures, like the growing season.