Hudelot-Noellat

Hudelot-Noëllat is one of the most renowned estates in the Côte de Nuits, because of its elegant Pinot Noir wines. Its vineyards are spread across an almost perfect terroir stretching from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Chambolle-Musigny, including Vosne-Romanée and Vougeot. Located in the village of Vougeot, the estate is now directed by Charles Van Cane (family’s fourth generation).

History

Alain Judelot founded the estate in Chambolle-Musigny in the early 1960s, starting with just two vineyard plots gifted to him by his father. In the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the joint efforts of his relatives and his wife Odile Noëllat, the granddaughter of Charles Noëllat, a legendary figure in Vosne-Romanée, the winery expanded significantly.

Following a major inheritance in 1988, Domaine Noëllat was divided: one half became part of Domaine Leroy, whilst the other half passed into the joint ownership of Hudelot-Noëllat and Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron.

Alain managed the estate for around 45 years. In 2008, he retired, and his grandson, Charles Van Cane, took over after completing his oenology studies in Dijon. Vincent Munié, who joined the team in 2005, continues to work side by side with Charles. This transition was smooth, without any sudden changes; Charles sought to refine the style of the wines rather than start from scratch.

Vineyards and terroir

The estate covers around 10 hectares, spread across four villages and 15 appellations. The range of vineyards is exceptional: 0.33 ha of Richebourg (planted in 1950), 0.5 hectares of Romanée-Saint-Vivant (1920), 0.69 hectares of Clos de Vougeot (1950), the Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Malconsors (0.14 hectares, 1950), Les Suchots (0.45 ha, 1920) and Les Beaumonts (0.32 ha, 1920), Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers (0.68 ha, 1985), Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeots (0.53 ha, 1970), Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes (0.21 ha, 1955) and a strong selection of wines from the villages of Chambolle, Vosne and Nuits.

The Côte de Nuits terroir here is formed from limestone and marl on east-facing slopes. Each cru has its own distinct profile, ranging from the more powerful, mineral-driven wines of Vosne to the delicate, aromatic reds of Chambolle. The average age of the vines is around 50 years, with several plots dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Grape varieties

Pinot Noir for red wines, with a small addition of Chardonnay for Bourgogne Blanc. The main focus is on red Burgundy wines.

Winemaking

Cultivation is carried out with care for the soil, using ploughing and reducing yields, and since 2019 the vineyards have been managed using organic methods. Sorting takes place rigorously both in the vineyard and at the winery. Most bunches are destemmed, though a small proportion of whole bunches (up to around 20 per cent) is added when the harvest permits.

Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks using indigenous yeasts following a cold maceration lasting around ten days, with careful submersion and pumping over.

Ageing takes place in oak barrels, mainly from Allier, with the addition of wood from the Vosges and Siet. New oak is used sparingly: around 20 per cent for village wines and up to 50–60 per cent for Grand Crus.

Wines

The range begins with Bourgogne Pinot Noir and wines from the villages of Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Baies-des-Combes, all of which exceed expectations for their tier.

Above these are the Premier Crus: Vougeot Les Petits Vougeots, Chambolle-Musigny Les Charmes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Murges, as well as the trio from Vosne-Romanée: Le Beaumont, Le Sushot and Le Malconsort.

At the very top are the three Grand Crus: Clos de Vougeot, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and Richebourg. The overall style of the wines is silky, aromatic and precise; they are often somewhat closed in their youth and reward patience when cellared.