Nuits-Saint-Georges PDO
Nuits-Saint-Georges, signature wines of the Côte de Nuits
This Burgundy village has given its name to its wines, but also to the prestigious hillside on which it is produced. Nuits-Saint-Georges is located in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, a region of the Burgundy vineyards located between Dijon and Beaune and from which come the "pinot noir" wines considered to be the best in France, if not the world. The appellation area adjoins the prestigious Vosne-Romanée, but does not match its price level. The wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges are thus relatively more affordable, a quality-price ratio due to the large surface area of the AOC as well as the notable absence of Grands Crus.
General presentation of nuits-saint-georges
The town of Nuits-Saint-Georges is located in the northern part of the Burgundy vineyard, in the Côte d'Or. It has given its name to the wine-growing sub-region of the Côte de Nuits, where the renowned AOCs of Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin are also located. Nuits-Saint-Georges also borders the Côte de Beaune, which opens up to the south with the AOC area of Aloxe-Corton.
The AOC Nuits-Saint-Georges is a Village appellation, produced in the town of Nuits and in Premeaux-Prissey. Of the 300 hectares of the appellation, about 150 hectares are classified as Premier Cru. No less than 41 Climats are concerned. They are generally located on the top of the hillside and are spread from north to south of the AOC area, from Vosne-Romanée in the north to Comblanchien in the south. Among these Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, we can mention: Les Saint-Georges, Les Pruliers, La Roncière, Les Cailles, Les Vaucrains, Les Didiers, Les Terres Blanches, Aux Perdrix.
Naturally, Pinot Noir is the grape variety which reigns supreme in the vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The red wines are thus largely in the majority. Even if variety is the order of the day due to the diversity of the soils, these wines are always solid and long-lasting, full-bodied and powerful, with a beautiful tannic structure. The suppleness of the tannins is their signature.
The Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation is also at the origin of some white wines. They represent hardly 3 % of the production and honour the white type of vine par excellence of Burgundy, the chardonnay.
Characteristics of Nuits-Saint-Georges
The red wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges have a colour as dark as night, purple and intense, sometimes tending towards mauve. The aromas of this vigorous, full-bodied red wine are most often characterised by rose and liquorice. When drunk young, it reveals fruity notes: cherry, strawberry, blackcurrant. After a few years, a Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC turns towards leather, truffles, fur and game, often with notes of macerated fruit. These red wines can be kept for 5 to 10 years, up to 15 years or more for the best bottles and the best vintages.
The white wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges have a beautiful deep golden colour. Their bouquet often opens with a background of white flowers and is characterised by the presence of greedy aromas of honey and brioche. Their ageing potential is between 4 and 8 years.
How to enjoy a Nuits-Saint-Georges
Full-bodied, vigorous, balanced and long on the palate, a Nuits-Saint-Georges red wine is most often recommended as an accompaniment to tasty meats, such as roast lamb or grilled rib of beef. It also goes well with duck, veal, poultry... and game: doe, roe deer, wild boar... especially when the wine is mature. A Nuits-Saint-Georges red wine goes well with cheeses of character such as Langres, Epoisses, Roquefort, Cîteaux or Livarot.
The white wines of the AOC Nuits-Saint-Georges are perfect with grilled fish: back of pike-perch a la plancha, fish gratin, baked trout... They are also perfect with shellfish such as lobster or lobster flambé.
As for serving temperature, serve a red wine at about 15-16° and a white at about 12-13°.
Laissez-vous tenter... par les autres appellations !
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