Louis Jadot - Famille Gagey Beaune 1er Cru Aux Cras 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The Gagey family's involvement with this historic Burgundy landmark came with the death of Louis-Auguste Jadot. With no heir, the estate was entrusted in 1962 to André Gagey, who remained steward until 1991, when he handed over the reins to his son Pierre-Henry, now at the helm of the 225-hectare vineyard. Since 2011, Frédéric Barnier, who took over from Jacques Lardière, has been in charge of vinification, further improving the consistency and homogeneity of all batches. White wines are pneumatically pressed and fermented directly in barrels, where they are aged on lees with periodic stirring of the lees for 12 to 20 months. Red wines are vinified de-stemmed, unpressed, without cold pre-fermentation, and undergo a 25 to 27-day cuvaison before maturing for 12 to 22 months in barrels, a third of which are new.

Decanter

About the wine:

Aux Cras is widely recognized as one of Beaune's finest premier crus. Situated in the middle of the hillside, it produces wines that are relatively long on the palate. This wine is rich and deep, with great body, density and structure, well-controlled oak and a fresh, chalky finish. 2024-2030

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Aux Cras (Domaine Gagey) presents itself beautifully, revealing in the glass an inviting bouquet of sweet red fruits, raw cocoa and dried orange peel, already superbly integrated, if still a little tentative after its recent bottling. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, velvety and supple, with a fleshy core of succulent fruit framed by exquisitely refined tannins. Although already charming enough to be enjoyed young, it will come into its own after a decade or more of bottle age. 2023-2045

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This prestigious trading house is run with great efficiency by Pierre-Henry Gagey, who is deeply involved in Burgundy. The house boasts an extensive range of wines and a fine collection of terroirs, including the main Burgundy appellations. Frédéric Barnier, in charge of vinification since 2012, is gradually imposing his touch by purifying the wines. Consistency is one of the house's strong points. While the whites are well-balanced, the reds are strict and severe, with wood overpowering the fruit and even hints of acetate, which, this year, disturbed the reading of certain cuvées. Let's hope this is temporary, as the star is under threat.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This full-bodied, generously textured wine comes from one of Beaune's lesser-known Premier Crus. Its structure and juicy red fruit are ripe and concentrated, with a hint of smoke on the finish. Drink from 2024.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Bright cherry red. Light but bewitching, well-balanced nose, with fine, fruity aromas on the palate. Lively and dynamic. Relatively early. 2022-2030

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2017 Beaune Cras 1er Cru has a charming, almost enveloping bouquet of macerated red cherry, raspberry and hoisin aromas that are perhaps the most expressive of the seven Jadot Beaunes I've tasted from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied, with a fleshy, fairly generous attack, and plenty of red plum, strawberry and light marmalade notes. The Beaune Cras has a little tension that exerts an insistent grip towards the persistent finish. Another fine Beaune from Jadot. 2020-2032

James Suckling