Domaine Georges Noëllat

Domaine Georges Noëllat, nestled in the heart of Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, carries a rich history. Georges Noëllat, the nephew of Charles Noëllat, once owned one of Vosne’s most esteemed domaines. Over time, the domaine’s influence extended to Domaines Jean-Jacques Confuron and Hudelot Noëllat, and it even formed the majority of Domaine Leroy. In 2010, the reins passed to Maxime Cheurlin, a young winemaker with a passion for tradition and innovation.

The 5.5-hectare estate encompasses profound terroirs in Vosne-Romanée and northern Nuits-Saint Georges. Maxime inherited ancient vines, their roots deeply embedded in the Burgundian soil. His viticultural approach follows lutte raisonnée, where treatments are judiciously applied only when necessary. These old vines demand special care, and Maxime ensures their preservation.

Maxime’s winemaking philosophy centres on elegance and purity. Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, often 100% de-stemmed (with occasional whole-cluster inclusion), and cool macerated. The choice of new oak varies, tailored to each appellation and vintage. Ageing occurs over 14 to 20 months, and the wines are typically bottled without fining or filtration.

Wine critics recognise the finesse of Domaine Georges Noëllat’s Pinot Noir. Allen Meadows (Burghound) describes them as “delicate” yet beautifully balanced, reflecting their underlying terroirs. Neal Martin (Vinous) acknowledges the immense potential of Maxime’s winemaking.

Grands Echézeaux

Located in the larger Côte de Nuits sub-region of Burgundy, Grands Échezeaux is renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir wines with a rich history and a reputation for elegance and complexity.

The vineyard benefits from a diverse terroir that includes variations in soil types, exposure to sunlight, and elevation, contributing to the complexity and character of the wines produced here. It is divided among several wine producers, each with a distinct style and approach to winemaking. Some of the most notable producers include Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret, Domaine Anne Gros, and Domaine de la Vougeraie.

The wines are known for their depth, complexity, and elegance. They often exhibit a dark ruby colour and aromas of red and black fruits, such as cherries, raspberries, and sometimes even darker notes, like blackberries. Floral notes, earthy undertones, and subtle spices are also commonly found in these wines. They typically offer a harmonious balance of fruit, acidity, and refined tannins on the palate, allowing them to age gracefully over time.

Like many premium Burgundy wines, Grands Échezeaux has the potential to age and develop beautifully over the years. Properly cellared bottles can evolve to reveal more complex and nuanced characteristics, making them highly sought-after.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.

The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.