2009 Maison Méo-Camuzet Frère et Soeur Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras

The roots of Maison Méo-Camuzet Frère & Soeurs go back more than 400 years, during which time the Méo and Camuzet families have been vignerons and influential civic and industry leaders in Burgundy. Throughout the generations the family has included not only outstanding winemakers but also mayors of Vosne-Romanée and men and women who were active in politics and business on a national level. The label Méo-Camuzet was first applied to bottles with the 1983 vintage, when the two families, long connected by marriage, decided to settle on a single label. In 2008 Jean-Nicolas Méo teamed up with his sisters Isabelle and Angeline to create the negociant Maison Méo-Camuzet Frère & Soeurs. The maison produces Grand and Premier Crus, as well as village and regional wines, from many appellations.

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.