2014 Bertrand Ambroise Nuits-St.-Georges Les Vaucrains

Maison Bertrand Ambroise is a 33-acre estate in Premeaux-Prissey, near Nuits Saint Georges. The estate dates to the 18th century but it became Maison Bertrand Ambroise in 1987, when Bertrand Ambroise acquired the estate. He runs it with the help of his wife and children. The estate has Grand Cru parcels in Clos de Vougeot, Corton and Corton-Charlemagne, as well as numerous Premier Crus in Nuits Saints Georges, Vougeot, Pommard and Saint-Aubin.

Les Vaucrains is a 15.5-acre Premier Cru vineyard in Nuits-Saints-Georges, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. It is in the southern part of of the appellation. Because there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Nuits-Saints-Georges, the appellation’s considerable reputation rests on its excellent Premier Crus. Burgundy writer Clive Coates calls this vineyard part of the “greatest climat in Nuits-Saint-Georges.” The vineyard is 260 – 280 meters in elevation with rocky soil heavy with sand and clay. Coates calls Les Vaucrains “vigorous and rich and full-bodied.”

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.