A new gesture joins that of stars and keys: the Michelin Guide is now tackling wine. For the first time, wine estates are distinguished by Michelin Clusters, a system designed as the equivalent of stars for restaurants, with a highly anticipated first prize list.
This Tuesday, July 7, at the Palace of the Estates and Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon, the ceremony inaugurates this distinction dedicated to the overall excellence of the Burgundy and Bordeaux estates. The names are starting to fall, but what exactly do these famous clusters cover and how can you read this unique classification?
Michelin clusters: the new language of the Wine Guide
The idea was announced during the star ceremony in Monaco. , declared Gwendal Poullennec, quoted by Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire. Concretely, domains can receive one, two or three clusters, and those which are not awarded can still be marked as “recommended”.
One cluster distinguishes an area of high quality, two clusters mark a real reference, three clusters indicate the most sought-after producers. The Guide summarizes its ambition in these terms: , explains the Michelin Guide, cited by France 3.
A strict methodology, five criteria and specialized inspectors
The ranking is based on . The selections are made by experts employed by Michelin, former sommeliers, critics or production specialists. explains Lauriane Villate, relations manager, in Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire.
The areas are evaluated around five axes, described by the Guide:
- Quality of agronomy: the , and the .
- Technical mastery: research into cellar practices.
- Identity: expression of .
- Balance: control of .
- Consistency: maintenance, or even progression, of the quality of vintages.
Prize list of the first Michelin Clusters in Burgundy
In Burgundy, several legendary estates boast three clusters. Among them, Armand Rousseau, Arnoux-Lachaux, Clos de Tart, Comte Georges de Vogüé, Domaine de Montille, Domaine des Lambrays, Domaine Ponsot, Faiveley, Méo-Camuzet, Roulot, Trapet and even Vincent Girardin. We also find highly sought-after signatures like Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Michel Lafarge, Marc Colin, Bernard-Bonin or Claude Dugat.
The two-cluster level distinguishes other major references from the Burgundy vineyard: Arnaud Ente, Benoit Ente, Benoît Moreau, Bonneau du Martray, Bruno Clair, Denis Mortet, Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Domaine des Croix, Domaine Leflaive, Dujac, Dureuil-Janthial, Etienne Sauzet, Georges Mugneret-Gibourg, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Lamy-Caillat or Paul Pillot. The complete list, including Bordeaux and future “recommended” mentions, must be consulted on the Michelin Guide website, which announces a regular update.
What are Michelin Clusters?
Michelin Clusters are a distinction awarded to wine estates, on a scale of one to three clusters, with an additional “recommended” mention for certain producers.
What is the difference between Michelin stars and clusters?
The stars reward restaurants, the keys the hotels, while the Clusters focus on the overall quality of the wine estates: vineyard, cellar and identity.
How are the areas chosen for the Michelin Clusters?
Inspectors employed by the group visit the vineyards, taste the wines and evaluate each estate according to five precise criteria, in complete independence.
