NUITS SAINT GEORGES ET PREMEAUX PRISSEY

Localization : Côte de Nuits
Total vineyard area : 318 ha. (264 ha. at Nuits Saint Georges) of which 143 ha. Premier Cru (101 ha. in Nuits Saint Georges)
Area in production : 289,30 ha
Variety and types of wine : almost exclusively Pinot Noir (only 3.5 ha. of Chardonnay in production)
Classification : Villages and Premier Cru

Premier Cru "Climats":

Les Cailles : On the south side of Nuits Saint Georges next to the Premier Cru Les Saint Georges, and south of Les Porrets, Les Cailles is nevertheless very different from its neighbours, being uniquely feminine. In 1892, it was classed "tête de cuvée" by Messrs. Danguy et Aubertin (Les Grands Vins de Bourgogne). Bouchard Père & Fils owns 1.07 hectares of this exceptional land, with soil composed of oclitic chalk which gives very pleasant aromas even when it is still young. The Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles from the Bouchard Père & Fils estate usually offers an intense bouquet with notes of blackberries mingled with woody, delicately spiced tones. Fleshy and ample, its structure has very elegant tannins.

Clos Saint Marc : owned completely by Bouchard Père & Fils, this vineyard of 0.93 ha. with oclitic chalk belongs to the Village of Premeaux Prissey not far from the church dedicated to Saint Marcel, which could explain the origin of its name. (Les lieux dits dans le vignoble bourguignon, Marie-Hélène Landrieu-Lussigny, 1983). Nuits Saint Georges Clos Saint Marc Domaine du Clos Saint Marc is a Premier Cru with structure and density, expressing great virility and excellent potential for ageing.

Clos des Argillières : The 1 hectare to the south of Premeaux Prissey, which belongs to Bouchard Père & Fils, represents 25 % of this appellation. The wines reflect the land, combining tannins and richness. An elegant mixture of berries, spices and fine woody notes, with a generous, very profound bouquet.

Formerly Nuits-sous-Beaune, the town has only had its present name since 1892, adding to the name of "Nuits" the name of one of its oldest vineyards : les Saint Georges. The town had early contacts with the rest of Europe, in particular Germany and Great Britain, its future clients. Commerce had a place of honour in this open, cosmopolitan borough which was ahead of the other Burgundian towns. Nuits-Saint-Georges claims to have been the supplier of "old Burgundy wine" to king Louis XIV, whose doctor ordered him to drink this wine (without however saying that it had to be from Nuits) instead of champagne. Another commercial success : in 1971, the Apollo XV crew when they arrived on the moon, baptized one of the craters Saint-Georges.

Of intense, dark colour, the wines from Nuits are characterized by their plenitude. Powerful and complex, they combine aromas of black berries, fur and truffle flavoured with a hint of spice. Full bodied, they are considered to be the most tannic of the wines of Burgundy.

Photographic credit: Dominique Pernin