1999 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Roncieres

Robert Chevillon in Nuits St. Georges has 27 acres of vineyards, some with vines up to 75 years old. The domain’s eight premier crus are considered some of the finest in the region. The estate is run by Robert Chevillon and his sons Denis and Bertrand, and, like many vignerons in Burgundy, the family’s roots in winemaking go back at least to the 19th century. Domaine Chevillon is known for its policy of long, slow fermentation. Burgundy writer Clive Coates has called the estate “a splendid domaine with a marvelous palette of premier crus…(that are ) rich, classy, individual and more opulent than most.” Besides the red wines the estate makes a rare Nuits-Saint-George blanc.

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.