Raoul Clerget Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains 1983
Light to medium-bodied red · Raoul Clerget
Vintage: 1983
Type
Light to medium-bodied red
Producer
Raoul Clerget
Country
France
Vintage
1983
Region & Appellation
Burgundy, Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOC
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir and Gamay blend
Color & Appearance
Pale garnet with a pronounced brick-orange rim, showing significant evolution and age due to its decades in the bottle, with moderate clarity and light sediment.
Aroma Profile
Tertiary dominated bouquet featuring dried red cherries, forest floor, damp autumn leaves, dried mushrooms, subtle leather, and faint whiffs of old spice.
Tasting Notes
A delicate and fragile old-world red. The palate opens with fading red fruit and considerable secondary earthiness, transitioning into a light, tertiary-driven mid-palate with resolved tannins, and finishing with a lingering, savory, slightly autumnal echo.
Flavor Profile
Dried cranberries, tart sour cherry, forest floor, wet earth, dried herbs, and a touch of mushroom umami, evolving from faded fruit to entirely savory notes.
Body & Texture
Light-bodied with a delicate, silky, and somewhat fragile mouthfeel, lacking youthful fruit concentration but offering a soft, ethereal texture typical of aged regional Burgundies.
Acidity & Tannins
High, bright acidity that has stayed remarkably intact to carry the aged fruit, paired with fully resolved, completely soft, and melted tannins.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry
Alcohol Content
Approximately 11.5% to 12.0%
Aging & Oak
Traditional neutral oak cask aging with extended bottle aging over several decades, which has fully integrated any original wood influence into tertiary complexity.
Food Pairings
Mushroom risotto, earthy autumnal roasted root vegetables, duck confit, or mild aged cheeses like Comté, where the delicate aged profile will not be overwhelmed by heavy seasoning.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 55-60°F in a traditional Burgundy glass. Avoid aggressive decanting as the wine is fragile; stand upright to settle sediment and pour gently. This bottle is well past its prime drinking window and should be consumed immediately upon opening for historical interest.
Price Range
30-60 USD (primarily of interest to collectors of aged curiosities or auction buyers)
Quality Assessment
80-84 points. A historically interesting, fully mature regional Burgundy that has likely peaked and is now in its declining, tertiary phase, appealing mostly to enthusiasts of ancient wines.
Production Methods
Traditional Burgundian vinification featuring open-top wooden vats, wild yeast fermentation, blending of Pinot Noir and Gamay prior to or during fermentation, and minimal intervention.
Terroir
Clay-limestone soils of the broader Burgundy region, benefiting from a cool continental climate that produces naturally high-acid, lower-alcohol, highly expressive red wines.
History & Heritage
Raoul Clerget is a traditional merchant-elevage house rooted in Burgundy's history, known for bottling authentic expressions of regional appellations across decades past.
Interesting Facts
Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains is a historic regional AOC established in 1937 that uniquely mandates the blending of Pinot Noir and Gamay, creating a distinctively bright and earthy style of Burgundian red.
Cellaring Potential
Past peak. This 1983 vintage is far beyond its optimal drinking window and should be opened immediately as a historical tasting experience rather than held further.
Similar Wines
Older regional Burgundies, aged Beaujolais Crus, or mature Loire Valley reds from cooler, classic vintages.