1985 Charles Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur

Domaine Charles Mortet et Fils based in Gevrey-Chambertin was started by Charles Mortet in the mid-20th century. By the late 1970s Mortet’s two sons were working alongside of him, working nearly 25 acres within 14 appellations , and the label changed to include the sons in the name. The domaine’s wines were very highly regarded during the last decades of the 20th century, and Clive Coates called Mortet “a man of passion as well as perfectionism…. (Mortet’s wines) are “full, generous, multi-dimensional, rich and expansive.” Mortet retired in 1991 and divided his estate between his sons, Denis and Thierry. Denis Mortet took his own life in 2006.

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.