La Grande Rue

"[1] It can contain "nuances of raspberry and violet",with a bouquet of "a profusion of flowers"[2] "It gains from being decanted and often delivers wild game aromas ... Age embellishes it"[3] It is situated within the commune of Vosne-Romanée and is a monopole of Domaine Lamarche.

Fermentationstill takes place in open wooden cuves ... the ideal temperature remains low at 28° and cuvaison lasts on average 12-15 days.

At this period the Abbé Courtépée cites it as among 'the most distinguished vineyards' of Vosne, at the quality level of Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Varoilles, Tache, Malconsorts and other Echézeaux.

[8] When the other traditionally top-rated vineyards of Vosne-Romanée were being classified in the 1930s as the AOC system was introduced, owner Henri Lamarche did not apply for Grand Cru status and La Grande Rue therefore remained a Premier Cru: "the explanation is that when the official classification was drawn up he believed there was nothing to be gained except perhaps increased taxes ... the domaine [François Lamarche from 1985] finally succeeded after a long and persistent campaign in persuading the authorities to reclassify it as Grand Cru, chiefly on the ground that it shares the same soil band as its neighbours";[9] and the INAO approved the dossier on 8–9 November 1989 andbut due to a political delay the actual decree did not go into effect until 8 July 1992.

Promotion was retroactive to the 1991 vintage[10] After producing "splendid wines" in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, "standards declined in the later years of Henri Lamarche"[11] (from 1973-1984), "and it took François time to turn things around, in particular by reducing yields"[12] The main grape variety for La Grande Rue is Pinot noir.