1985 Hospices de Nuits Nuits St. Georges Les Boudots Cuvee Mesny de Boisseaux elevage Remoissenet

Hospices de Nuit is a charitable foundation established in 1692 in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like its much larger cousin the Hospices de Beaune foundation and wine auction, Hospices de Nuit holds an annual charitable wine auction. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, had several small charitable hospitals consolidated to make the Hospices de Nuit. The Hospices de Nuit auction is held each year two weeks before Easter and the wines come from 22 acres owned by the foundation. The vineyards are mostly Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru and village parcels. For several centuries grapes grown on the 22 acres were sold off in bulk. But starting in 1961 Hospices de Nuits held its own auction. Though the Hospices de Nuit event is much lower profile that the Hospices de Beaune auction, Clive Coates has written that Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges “is a fine estate.” Unlike at Hospices de Beaune, this charitable domain has its own team of viticulteurs.

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.