At a glance

Producer

Domaine René Ingold

Region

Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$360-$520 (secondary market, depending on condition)

Tasting profile

Complex tertiary bouquet of forest floor, sous-bois, dried roses, truffle, leather, subtle spice; palate is elegant, refined, with delicate cherry fruit, umami, and silky structure.

Evolution: Fruit has receded toward secondary/tertiary notes—dried cherry, earth, mushroom, herbal complexity dominate.

At peak: Great bottles will show supreme harmony and complexity, with ethereal length and velvet texture typical of mature Clos Vougeot Grand Cru.

Structure

Acidity

Medium+ (Burgundy 1996 noted for its freshness and backbone)

Tannins

Mature, softened, still present but silky

Alcohol

12.5-13% ABV (typical for Burgundy of this era)

Aging potential

30-35 years from vintage; most bottles are at peak or slightly past but not in danger of rapid decline if cellared well

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2012 to 2022

Optimal window

2007 to 2028

Current status

Mature, at or near peaks but can still hold

Current condition

At 28 years old, a well-stored bottle from a top Grand Cru site will show great tertiary complexity but can continue to hold. Approaching end of plateau but not yet over the hill.

1996 is regarded as a high-acid, classic vintage for Burgundy. Top Grand Cru wines were built for aging. Domaine René Ingold is not a widely known Clos-Vougeot producer, but Grand Cru structure and a good vintage grant this wine extended life—30+ years is realistic if stored optimally, though most bottles are now in their mature plateau or approaching gentle decline.

Food pairing

Roast squab, duck with cherry sauce, veal with morels, wild mushroom risotto, mature cheeses (Comté, aged Gruyère).

Serving

Serving temperature

16°C / 61°F

Decant

Yes (30-45 minutes (gently)) — To separate wine from possible sediment and allow the mature bouquet to open. Avoid long aeration, as old Burgundy can fade quickly.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 3/10

Traditional vineyard management assumed for small Burgundy estates of the era; likely conventional methods with minimal intervention. Specific details on cover cropping, water conservation, or renewable energy use are not available.

Like many small Burgundy domaines of the 1990s, documented sustainability practices are lacking due to the period and focus on tradition. No third-party certification, and little available evidence of proactive environmental measures. Carbon footprint impacted by international transport and absence of eco-friendly packaging. Score is low by current standards, but not unusually poor for its era.