2022 Frédéric Magnien Nuits St. Georges Damodes

Maison Frederic Magnien is a negociant in Morey-St.-Denis, in Burgundy. Frederic Magnien grew up in the wine business working beside his father, Michel, of Michel Magnien. But in 1995 Frederic started making wines under his own name with fruit purchased from nearby vineyards. His large portfolio of wines includes many Grand Crus such as Charmes-Chambertin, Chambertin Close de Beze, Mazoyeres Chambertin, Latricieres-Chambertin, Echezeaux, Bonnes Mares, Grand Echezeaux and Richebourg. Magnien also produces premier crus and white wines, including the Grand Cru Montrachet. Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that “Frederic Magnien typifies the new style negociant ferreting out fruit from exceptional parcels…(he) insists on an active role in the vineyards and control of the harvest.” The result, Parker concludes, is that “literally dozens of outstanding red Burgundies that until a few years ago did not exist now enter the market through this address.”

Les Damodes is a 21.5 acre Premier Cru vineyard in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, in Burgundy’s Cote-de-Nuits. It is near the northern boundary of Nuits-Saints-Georges, at an average elevation of 290 meters with some relatively steep inclines. The soil is limestone, gravel and sand. Some wine writers note that the wines from these northern Nuits-Saint-Georges vineyards have a hint of Vosne about them, since they are so close to the Vosne-Romanee appellation. Because there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Nuits-Saints-Georges, the appellation’s considerable reputation rests on its excellent Premier Crus.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.