Nuits-Saint-Georges

Nuits-Saint-Georges is a wine produced in both white and red varieties in the Côte de Nuit region between Dijon and Beaune and has held an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designation since 1936. The appellation covers an area of 310 hectares, but in reality, there are two distinct zones, as 140 hectares are classified as Premier Cru. As is the case throughout Burgundy, the term “climat” is used to define production zones. First used in 1869 by Jules Verne in his book *Around the Moon* to have his characters raise a toast, these bottles were eventually encountered by real astronauts. In May 1969, the passengers of Apollo IX were welcomed in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and a case of a never-before-released vintage, “Terre-Lune 1959,” was presented to them with the intention of delivering it to the Moon! Most of these wines are red and made almost entirely from Pinot Noir. Their color reflects the appellation, with a very dark purple hue. The nose may evoke notes of rose and licorice. When young, the aromas focus on cherry, strawberry, and blackcurrant. As they age, notes of leather, truffle, and spices become more prominent. When enjoyed young, these wines can be full-bodied and robust. Aging lends them a great deal of smoothness. These wines often deserve to be cellared for between 5 and 15 years to fully express their character. For the whites, the grape variety is Chardonnay, which gives the wines a fairly deep golden color. On the nose, you’ll find white flowers and brioche-like aromas.