In Vougeot, at the heart of the Côte de Nuits, Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat cultivates a philosophy where humility towards nature guides every action. Founded in 1962 by Alain Hudelot, the estate is now run by his grandson, Charles van Canneyt. Spanning 10 hectares across four villages and fifteen appellations, the domaine strives to reveal the purest expression of Burgundy’s Climats.
Each vine is carefully monitored, and vinification follows a classical, low-intervention approach. Indigenous yeasts, naturally present on the grape skins, drive the fermentation. No fining or filtration interferes with the wine’s identity.
Among the estate’s most emblematic cuvées is Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, sourced from a tiny 0.48-hectare parcel facing east. With its deep clay soils (90 cm) resting on hard Premeaux limestone, this Jurassic terroir (175 million years old) produces wines of great depth. Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted, 80% destemmed, and vinified gently with pigeage. The wine is then aged for 16 months in oak barrels, 50% of which are new. The result is a refined and vibrant Pinot Noir with a silky texture.
Color: light, bright ruby with garnet reflections.
Nose: intensely aromatic and beautifully complex, opening with sweet spices and floral notes (rose, violet), followed by fresh plum, cocoa, toasted coffee, black cherry, and a subtle touch of leather.
Palate: dense, round, and structured, with an appealing sweetness. A full-bodied wine with polished, rounded tannins and a long, persistent, creamy finish.
Pairing: veal chop with morel mushrooms.
Comment: an exceptional wine.
A Chigny-les-Roses, village de la montagne de Reims, Arnaud et Sophie Gounel
