Whilst there isn’t a lot of information to be found on PRIEURÉ ROCH the wines are legendary in and around the Burgundian circle. Their attention to the soil and respect for the vines is second to none. Their wines are simply about purity and tone with as little done as possible throughout the winemaking process.
Founded in 1988 by Henry Roch. Henry is the son of Pauline Roch – older sister to Lalou Bize-Leroy – and Henry is also co-director of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Since 1998 Mr Roch had acquired vineyards in some of Burgundy’s most famous villages with Prieure Roch having an enviable holding of 14 hectares which include the notable Grand Crus of Clos de Beze & Clos Vougeot.
PRIEURÉ ROCH also farm several monopoles including the Clos de Corvées in Nuits St Georges which has a history dating back to the middle ages & Clos Goillote in Vosne Romanée which is a rare .55-hectare plot fifty metres from La Tache.
The Domaine has been farming with organic viticulture since it’s inception and produces extremely low yields in all it’s plots to enhance the intensity and quality of the cuvees produced. In the winery, they employ natural yeasts for all wines & 100% whole bunch fermentation for all red wines, except for the rare Pinoterie Pure which is only released in certain years. There is no fining or filtering & sulphur is only used in the smallest of homeopathic doses at bottling.
These choices showcase the philosophy of the Domaine to present a wine that is the purest expression of the fruit without being manipulated by additives or commercial practices & lets the terroir of the cuvee speak in it’s clearest voice.
The 2017 harvest in Burgundy was one meet with great relief & joy for Yannick Champ & his team at PRIEURÉ ROCH, Yannick commented the fruit was the healthiest he had seen since he started at the Domaine in 2002.
The berries had thick skins due to plenty of sunshine during the growing season & the juice displayed gorgeous colour and soft, silky tannins. The vintage has produced wines of energy and vitality with some comparisons to the classic Burgundian vintage of 2010 & though approachable in their youth the Premier Cru & Grand Cru wines will evolve beautifully in a cool cellar for many years. The wines of PRIEURÉ ROCH are pure and unadulterated. Biodynamically managed vineyards - No chaptilisation. No additions. No fining. No filtration. No sulphur.
Here are some of MR. SIMPLY's favourite
PRIEURÉ ROCH 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes Nuits St Georges 2017
PRIEURÉ ROCH Clos des Corvees Nuits St Georges 2017
PRIEURÉ ROCH Les Argillieres Nuits St Georges 2017
“Sometimes visits to a particular producer or vineyard can stand out in the mind;
for a variety of reasons they can remain with you or even effect the way you might think about things in the future.
The visit to DOMAINE PRIEURÉ ROCH was certainly one such visit....
The domaine is little reviewed by the ‘paid-for’ critics; I can only assume that DOMAINE PRIEURÉ ROCH is a hard place to fit into a reviewer’s 45-60 minute schedule of ‘slots’ – given the ‘ideals’ Henry works to, you might be there for 4 hours, or he just might throw you out after 4 minutes...”
The Burgundy Report - Bill Nanson
The distinctive "glyph" of the domaine is from Ancient Egypt and represents two yellow mouths (the devine, or natural, eye above the human eye) above three red "eggs", symbolising grapes. To the left is a papyrus leaf, representing both vegetation and the scribe, or record-keeper.
DOMAINE PRIEURÉ ROCH has forged a reputation for producing some of the most aromatically enticing and expressive wines from Burgundy that one could ever hope to experience. They are unique wines that are full of personality, intensity & with the healthy assistance of mother nature the 2017 vintage will be some of the most complete wines that SIMPLY WINES has to offer from DOMAINE PRIEURÉ ROCH.