2009 Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Chambolle-Musigny Derriere la Grange

Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot is owned and operated by the Confuron family, which has been making wine in Vosne-Romanée since the 17th century. The family is so famous and established in the region that there is a Pinot Noir grape clone named after them, Pinot Confuron. The estate’s 30 acres of vineyards include legendary Grand Cru, Premier Cru and villages parcels, none of which has ever been treated with pesticides or herbicides. Long before biodynamic farming became a movement, the Confurons were farming organically. Brothers Yves and Jean-Pierre run the estate today, with help from their parents. The domaine is known for whole cluster fermentation and a deep, dark, classically concentrated style that is considered by Burgundy aficionados to be distinctly old school, and highly impressive.

Côte de Nuits is the northern part of the Côte d’Or and it includes the most famous vineyards and wine communes in the world. There are more Grand Cru appellations in the Côte de Nuits than anywhere else in Burgundy. Of the fourteen communes, or villages in the Côte de Nuits, six produce Grand Cru wines. They are Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St.-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Flagey-Échezeaux and Vosne-Romanee. Some of the vineyards within the Côte de Nuits are tiny, which adds to their prestige. The fabled Grand Cru vineyard La Romanee is barely two square acres. Altogether there are twenty-four Grand Cru vineyards. The region takes its name from the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Côtes de Nuits produces mostly reds from Pinot Noir, and the wines have been in demand for centuries. During the 18th century King Louis XIV’s physician recommended that for his health the king only drink wines from Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like most of Burgundy, the soils of the Côte de Nuit can vary greatly from one vineyard to another, though most are a base soil of limestone mixed with clay, gravel and sand.

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.