Domaine rene engel - a burgundy icon
Edouard Bourgeois
April 10, 2025
The wines of Domaine René Engel are among the most coveted in Burgundy, and René himself became a true icon in the region. As a professor of oenology for 35 years and co-founder of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, he left behind an incredible legacy of wines from his Vosne-Romanée-based winery. The estate, though modest by Burgundy standards at 6.5 hectares, boasts holdings in highly esteemed appellations, including three Grands Crus: Échézeaux, Grands Échézeaux, and the celebrated Clos Vougeot, as well as an excellent Vosne-Romanée "village" and the 1er Cru Aux Brûlées. Born in 1894, René became a passionate ambassador for the great wins of Burgundy, helping to elevate the region's image at a time when many of its now-famous producers struggled to sell their wines. His legacy was continued by his son Pierre, who took over in 1949. However, Pierre's illness led to a decline in the domaine in the 1970s due to a series of poor vintages and a lack of maintenance.
After Pierre's passing in 1981, followed by René's in 1986, Philippe Engel took over at just 26 years old. His skill and dedication dramatically improved the wines' quality. Working alongside René for several years, and with his mother for about a decade, Philippe was instrumental in the domaine's rebirth. In 1988, he made the decision to bottle the entire production under the domaine name. By the early 1990s, Philippe had established his own signature style, and the wines today are as highly sought after as a late-50s Les Paul guitar…
In 2005, tragedy struck the family again with Philippe's passing. The entire harvest of that vintage was sold in bulk. The following year, the Burgundy world was shaken by the news that French billionaire François Pinault had purchased the estate, renaming it Domaine d'Eugénie after his grandmother. Backed by substantial resources and experience from prestigious wineries like Château Latour in Bordeaux, Pinault's team began revitalizing the vineyards, replanting vines that had died. These young vines, though planted in Grand Cru appellations, were initially declassified to village-level Vosne-Romanée. Michel Mallard served as Domaine d'Eugénie's first winemaker for the 2006, 2007, and 2008 vintages, before the winery moved to the refurbished Clos Frantin in Vosne-Romanée. Other changes under the new ownership included reduced yields to promote greater concentration and a more refined style. Stem inclusion also started early, with the crown jewel Clos Vougeot being made in two cuvées: one whole cluster and one destemmed, then blended.
We are thrilled to open some of these bottles, all made by Philippe Engel, on May 22nd for what promises to be an unforgettable wine dinner at Charlie Bird!
