1996 Denis Mugneret Nuits-St.-Georges Les Boudots

Denis Mugneret was for most of the mid-to-late 20th century the name of the domaine now known as Dominique Mugneret. The 20-acre estate based in Vosne-Romanee was founded in 1935 when Marcel Mugneret created Domaine Marcel Mugneret. As it was passed from father to son, the estate became Domaine Denis Mugneret and then, in the late 1990s when Dominique Mugneret took over, the estate’s name was changed to reflect the new generation at the helm. Today the estate makes wine from 13 Cote de Nuits appellations. It has a Grand Cru parcels in Echezeaux and Romanee-St.-Vivant, and Premier Crus in Nuits St. Georges. There are also village wines. Some 3,125 cases are produced annually.

Aux Boudots is a 15.8-acre Premier Cru vineyard in the appellation of Nuits-Saints-Georges, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Located at the northern end of Nuits-Saints-Georges, the vineyard is just across the appellation division from Vosne-Romanee’s Premier Cru Les Malconsorts. Because there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Nuits-Saints-Georges, the appellation’s considerable reputation rests on its excellent Premier Crus. Aux Boudot is 250-290 meters above sea level, a near ideal elevation, and the soil is limestone, gravel and clay. Burgundy writer Clive Coates has noted that Aux Boudot “is altogether more Vosne in character than Nuits.”

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.