Anne Gros 'Les Loachausses' Echezeaux Grand Cru, Burgundy, France 2017
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Anne Gros “Les Loachausses” Échezeaux Grand Cru 2017 is a limited-production Pinot Noir from a coveted 0.76-hectare parcel of the legendary Échezeaux vineyard in Burgundy. Crafted by esteemed vigneronne Anne Gros in Vosne-Romanée, this Grand Cru wine marries an early-ripening, mineral-rich terroir with a winemaking approach that emphasizes elegance and finesse. The result is a Burgundy of exceptional aromatic complexity, silky structure, and graceful aging potential.
Vineyard History
Anne Gros acquired the Les Loachausses plot in 2007, when a 25-year lease to Domaine Gros Frère et Sœur (held since her father François Gros’s era) came to an end. The parcel spans just 0.76 hectares and was originally planted in 1988, making the vines around 29 years old at the time of the 2017 vintage.
In its early years under Anne’s stewardship, the vineyard was pruned in the traditional cordon de Royat style; however, in 2010 she transitioned to Guyot pruning, finding it better adapted to this site. Anne also converted the viticulture to sustainable organic practices – she began plowing the rows and eliminated herbicides, rejoicing in the “beautiful brown soil” alive with little rocks and even marine fossils . The vine health improved markedly, and Les Loachausses soon showed extremely early ripening, becoming perhaps the earliest-maturing terroir in the domaine’s holdings.
Terroir
Les Loachausses lies at the southern end of Échezeaux Grand Cru, toward the foot of the slope. The soil here is relatively deep and clay-rich, comprised of brown limestone earth scattered with small stones and even fossilized seashells from an ancient seabed. This complex soil composition contributes both structuring power (from the clay) and fine-boned minerality (from the limestone), while the gravelly texture provides excellent drainage and vitality to the vines. The vineyard’s favorable sun exposure (predominantly south to southeast) combined with its lower-slope position aids optimal ripening; indeed, this parcel is known for achieving full maturity earlier than any other in the Anne Gros estate.
Vinification & Aging
All grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted to ensure only pristine fruit is used. Vinification is classic and gentle to preserve finesse: the Pinot Noir berries are usually destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks . Extraction is managed softly (via delicate pump-overs or punch-downs) to avoid over-extracting tannins, in line with Anne Gros’s elegant style. After fermentation, the young wine is matured for roughly 16 months in French oak barrels, about 30% of which are new oak, allowing complexity and integration without overpowering the nuanced fruit . This moderated oak regimen (approximately one-third new, one-third one-year, one-third two-year barrels) imparts subtle spice notes and polish to the wine while letting the terroir’s character shine through.
Tasting Notes
Aromas: The 2017 Les Loachausses Échezeaux offers a seductive bouquet of ripe black cherry, wild raspberry and crushed strawberry, intertwined with pretty floral nuances of violet and rose petal . As it opens in the glass, subtle layers of complexity emerge – suggestions of fine spices (a hint of white pepper, clove, and licorice/anise) mingle with a touch of earthy forest floor, reflecting the wine’s Vosne-Romanée pedigree and old-vine depth . The nose is exuberant yet refined, not overly powerful but very precise in its detail, inviting you in for a closer smell.
Palate: On the palate, this Grand Cru is elegant and silky in texture, with satiny, velvet-like tannins that coat the mouth gently . It is medium to full-bodied, showcasing a succulent core of red and black fruits supported by balanced acidity – a harmony that gives the wine lift despite its concentration . There is a firm underpinning of minerality and fine-grained structure, but the tannins are so polished that the wine flows seamlessly into a long, nuanced finish. Hints of spice and stony earth reappear on the finish, which is persistent and refined. Notably, the 2017’s overall poise and openness make it surprisingly approachable even young, delivering immediate pleasure without rough edges, yet it also carries the depth to reward further cellaring.
Food Pairings
The finesse and versatility of this Pinot Noir allow it to complement a range of flavorful dishes. It pairs beautifully with game birds and poultry – duck breast is a classic match – as well as roasted lamb or other herb-crusted red meats, where the wine’s fruit and acidity can cut through richness . Earthy dishes are another superb choice: try it alongside a wild mushroom risotto or truffle-infused pasta to echo the wine’s subtle forest-floor notes . For a simpler pairing, serve it with aged cheeses; the wine’s balance of bright acidity and silky tannin is an excellent foil for nutty, washed-rind cheeses like Époisses or an aged Comté . Overall, dishes that highlight savory, gamey, or umami flavors will sing with this Échezeaux, bringing out the wine’s complexity and sweetness of fruit.
Aging Potential
While Les Loachausses is enjoyable in its youth – thanks to its supple tannins and open-knit structure – it is fundamentally a Grand Cru Burgundy built to age. The 2017 vintage in particular has been noted as “structurally giving and open-knit” such that it “will charm in its youth,” yet it still has the balance to support long-term development. Most professional guidance places the optimal drinking window roughly 5–20 years from the vintage. For example, critics suggest it will drink beautifully from about 2020 through 2035 , with some advising peak maturity toward the later 2020s and beyond. In the cellar, the wine is expected to evolve additional tertiary nuances (truffle, leather, dried flowers) over time, gaining even more complexity. In short, you can certainly uncork the 2017 now for its youthful charm, but it also has the structure and pedigree to reward 15+ years of careful cellaring, evolving into an even more sublime and complex wine with age.
Scores & Reviews
• Neal Martin (Vinous) – 91–93 points. Described as “very elegant and approachable in style, with a touch of white pepper furnishing the finish. One of the earlier-drinking Échezeaux, but delightful,” with a recommended drinking window of 2020–2035 .
• William Kelley (Wine Advocate) – 90–92 points. Praises a “medium to full-bodied, satiny and expansive” palate with “melting tannins, a succulent core of fruit and a fragrant finish,” noting the wine is structurally giving and will “charm in its youth” .
• Allen Meadows (Burghound) – 90–92 points. Observes an “even spicier nose [with] riper aromas of plum liqueur, violet, sandalwood and a touch of anise,” leading to “rich and caressing” medium weight flavors. He notes good muscle and persistence on a moderately serious finish, and expects any youthful firmness to soften by the suggested drinking time of 2027+ .
Each of these reviews underscores the class and appeal of Anne Gros’s 2017 Échezeaux Les Loachausses, highlighting its perfume, finesse of texture, and approachability. This wine stands as a shining example of Grand Cru Burgundy that is both delightful now and destined for future glory in the years to come.
Anne Gros “Les Loachausses” Échezeaux Grand Cru 2017 is a limited-production Pinot Noir from a coveted 0.76-hectare parcel of the legendary Échezeaux vineyard in Burgundy. Crafted by esteemed vigneronne Anne Gros in Vosne-Romanée, this Grand Cru wine marries an early-ripening, mineral-rich terroir with a winemaking approach that emphasizes elegance and finesse. The result is a Burgundy of exceptional aromatic complexity, silky structure, and graceful aging potential.
Vineyard History
Anne Gros acquired the Les Loachausses plot in 2007, when a 25-year lease to Domaine Gros Frère et Sœur (held since her father François Gros’s era) came to an end. The parcel spans just 0.76 hectares and was originally planted in 1988, making the vines around 29 years old at the time of the 2017 vintage.
In its early years under Anne’s stewardship, the vineyard was pruned in the traditional cordon de Royat style; however, in 2010 she transitioned to Guyot pruning, finding it better adapted to this site. Anne also converted the viticulture to sustainable organic practices – she began plowing the rows and eliminated herbicides, rejoicing in the “beautiful brown soil” alive with little rocks and even marine fossils . The vine health improved markedly, and Les Loachausses soon showed extremely early ripening, becoming perhaps the earliest-maturing terroir in the domaine’s holdings.
Terroir
Les Loachausses lies at the southern end of Échezeaux Grand Cru, toward the foot of the slope. The soil here is relatively deep and clay-rich, comprised of brown limestone earth scattered with small stones and even fossilized seashells from an ancient seabed. This complex soil composition contributes both structuring power (from the clay) and fine-boned minerality (from the limestone), while the gravelly texture provides excellent drainage and vitality to the vines. The vineyard’s favorable sun exposure (predominantly south to southeast) combined with its lower-slope position aids optimal ripening; indeed, this parcel is known for achieving full maturity earlier than any other in the Anne Gros estate.
Vinification & Aging
All grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted to ensure only pristine fruit is used. Vinification is classic and gentle to preserve finesse: the Pinot Noir berries are usually destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks . Extraction is managed softly (via delicate pump-overs or punch-downs) to avoid over-extracting tannins, in line with Anne Gros’s elegant style. After fermentation, the young wine is matured for roughly 16 months in French oak barrels, about 30% of which are new oak, allowing complexity and integration without overpowering the nuanced fruit . This moderated oak regimen (approximately one-third new, one-third one-year, one-third two-year barrels) imparts subtle spice notes and polish to the wine while letting the terroir’s character shine through.
Tasting Notes
Aromas: The 2017 Les Loachausses Échezeaux offers a seductive bouquet of ripe black cherry, wild raspberry and crushed strawberry, intertwined with pretty floral nuances of violet and rose petal . As it opens in the glass, subtle layers of complexity emerge – suggestions of fine spices (a hint of white pepper, clove, and licorice/anise) mingle with a touch of earthy forest floor, reflecting the wine’s Vosne-Romanée pedigree and old-vine depth . The nose is exuberant yet refined, not overly powerful but very precise in its detail, inviting you in for a closer smell.
Palate: On the palate, this Grand Cru is elegant and silky in texture, with satiny, velvet-like tannins that coat the mouth gently . It is medium to full-bodied, showcasing a succulent core of red and black fruits supported by balanced acidity – a harmony that gives the wine lift despite its concentration . There is a firm underpinning of minerality and fine-grained structure, but the tannins are so polished that the wine flows seamlessly into a long, nuanced finish. Hints of spice and stony earth reappear on the finish, which is persistent and refined. Notably, the 2017’s overall poise and openness make it surprisingly approachable even young, delivering immediate pleasure without rough edges, yet it also carries the depth to reward further cellaring.
Food Pairings
The finesse and versatility of this Pinot Noir allow it to complement a range of flavorful dishes. It pairs beautifully with game birds and poultry – duck breast is a classic match – as well as roasted lamb or other herb-crusted red meats, where the wine’s fruit and acidity can cut through richness . Earthy dishes are another superb choice: try it alongside a wild mushroom risotto or truffle-infused pasta to echo the wine’s subtle forest-floor notes . For a simpler pairing, serve it with aged cheeses; the wine’s balance of bright acidity and silky tannin is an excellent foil for nutty, washed-rind cheeses like Époisses or an aged Comté . Overall, dishes that highlight savory, gamey, or umami flavors will sing with this Échezeaux, bringing out the wine’s complexity and sweetness of fruit.
Aging Potential
While Les Loachausses is enjoyable in its youth – thanks to its supple tannins and open-knit structure – it is fundamentally a Grand Cru Burgundy built to age. The 2017 vintage in particular has been noted as “structurally giving and open-knit” such that it “will charm in its youth,” yet it still has the balance to support long-term development. Most professional guidance places the optimal drinking window roughly 5–20 years from the vintage. For example, critics suggest it will drink beautifully from about 2020 through 2035 , with some advising peak maturity toward the later 2020s and beyond. In the cellar, the wine is expected to evolve additional tertiary nuances (truffle, leather, dried flowers) over time, gaining even more complexity. In short, you can certainly uncork the 2017 now for its youthful charm, but it also has the structure and pedigree to reward 15+ years of careful cellaring, evolving into an even more sublime and complex wine with age.
Scores & Reviews
• Neal Martin (Vinous) – 91–93 points. Described as “very elegant and approachable in style, with a touch of white pepper furnishing the finish. One of the earlier-drinking Échezeaux, but delightful,” with a recommended drinking window of 2020–2035 .
• William Kelley (Wine Advocate) – 90–92 points. Praises a “medium to full-bodied, satiny and expansive” palate with “melting tannins, a succulent core of fruit and a fragrant finish,” noting the wine is structurally giving and will “charm in its youth” .
• Allen Meadows (Burghound) – 90–92 points. Observes an “even spicier nose [with] riper aromas of plum liqueur, violet, sandalwood and a touch of anise,” leading to “rich and caressing” medium weight flavors. He notes good muscle and persistence on a moderately serious finish, and expects any youthful firmness to soften by the suggested drinking time of 2027+ .
Each of these reviews underscores the class and appeal of Anne Gros’s 2017 Échezeaux Les Loachausses, highlighting its perfume, finesse of texture, and approachability. This wine stands as a shining example of Grand Cru Burgundy that is both delightful now and destined for future glory in the years to come.