Côte de Nuits
Côte de Nuits: the home of Pinot Noir legends. There are Grands Crus like Romanée-Conti, La Tâche or Échezeaux, whose names and prestige echo through the wine world, causing wine lovers around the globe to freeze in awe. What all these Grands Crus have in common is that they all come from the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy.
The best wines from Côte de Nuits
Côte de Nuits: the home of Pinot Noir legends. There are Grands Crus like Romanée-Conti, La Tâche or Échezeaux, whose names and prestige echo through the wine world, causing wine lovers around the globe to freeze in awe. What all these Grands Crus have in common is that they all come from the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy.
Where exactly is the Côte de Nuits?
You have to travel almost to the very north of Burgundy to discover the Côte de Nuits. Only the Chablis is located further north in this prestigious wine-growing region. But that doesn't change the fact that the Côte de Nuits is the northernmost tip within the Côte d'Or in Burgundy.
From Nuits Saint-Georges to Dijon, the Côte de Nuits extends over 20 kilometres, encompassing 16 municipalities and 1,600 hectares of vineyards. What makes it special is that nowhere else in Burgundy has as many Grands Crus as the Côte de Nuits: 24 in fact. That's an absolute Burgundy record!
Which grapes are cultivated in the Côte de Nuits?
One grape variety is associated above all with the Côte de Nuits: Pinot Noir. No wonder! After all, this red grape is the only one allowed in almost all 24 Grands Crus. There is only one exception. In Musigny, Chardonnay is also permitted. But that doesn't change the fact that Pinot Noir is the absolute superstar in the Côte de Nuits. Real legends are created from this grape variety here, and they couldn't be more different.
But Chardonnay also shows its best side in the Côte de Nuits. Pinot Blanc is also permitted as a second white grape for the wines of the regional and municipal appellations
Climate and soils in the Côte de Nuits
In general, the climate in the Côte de Nuits is cool and continental. This alone makes winegrowing here very difficult. However, the winegrowers also have to contend with a lot of rain on a regular basis. Late frosts or even hail are also not unknown here. In some years, it may even happen that late frost first kills half of the buds, halving the subsequent harvest as early as spring, and then a heavy hailstorm in late or early summer causes a complete failure. The absolute horror for every winemaker! Those lucky enough to have their vineyards in the so-called Hautes-Côte de Nuits are in luck. This sub-region is lined up like a string of pearls in the southwest of the Côte de Nuits. As the name suggests, the vineyards here are slightly higher, which means that frosts are rarely a problem. Hail is also a rare visitor.
The Hautes-Côte de Nuits is dominated by sandy limestone, which often has a very high chalk content. In flatter areas, you will mainly find nutrient-rich alluvial soils. In addition, the microclimate can change drastically every few metres. Since Pinot Noir is a true terroir grape that develops different aromas depending on the soil type and microclimate, the different conditions for the vines can be tasted very well in the wines. Which brings us directly to the next question.
Wine producers
What does a wine from the Côte de Nuits taste like?
Unfortunately, the same applies here: there is no single defining taste. Let's break it down a little using the Pinot Noir grape variety as an example. There are, for example, the wines from the communal appellations called Côte de Nuits-Villages. These wines usually have a very subtle fruit and are very accessible very early on thanks to their freshness. A Premier Cru, on the other hand, has ripe fruit notes when young, which are then joined by animal notes over the course of the maturing years. A wonderful contrast in the glass, which provides a lot of excitement on the palate.
And then there are the Grands Crus, which really cannot be categorised at all. What they have in common is their consistent elegance and impressive complexity. However, this can sometimes be intense, sometimes restrained, sometimes delicate, sometimes with a strong push. Sometimes you find seductively floral nuances, then again an extremely lively freshness. In short, the Pinot Noirs of the Côte de Nuits are an excellent example of the many different expressions of this grape variety.
What food goes well with Côte de Nuits wines?
Precisely because the wines of the Côte de Nuits are so different and diverse, they go well with a wide range of dishes. A simple village, for example, goes well with braised beef. If the wine is stronger, game dishes such as saddle of venison are ideal. The great classic beef bourguignon also goes very well with it. A mature Pinot Noir from the Côte de Nuits often has a slight scent of foliage, undergrowth and mushrooms. That's why we like to serve such a wine with dishes featuring morels, porcini mushrooms or truffles.
However, if you want to treat yourself to one of the great Côte de Nuits legends such as Échezeaux, La Tâche or Romanée-Conti, we recommend enjoying these icons on their own. These great wines deserve your full attention – and you will be rewarded with a wine experience so sublime that it will make time stand still. Fancy discovering the wines of the Côte de Nuits? Then let yourself be inspired by the selection at Best of Wines!