2022 Gérard Julien Bourgogne Rouge Origine, Burgundy

A fresh and distinctly earthy dark berry fruit nose is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. The succulent and velvet-textured middleweight flavors possess fine concentration while delivering better than average depth and persistence on the balanced finale. A quality Bourgogne.

87 points Allen Meadows burghound.com Jan 2024

Gérard Julien Bourgogne Rouge Origine is a charming and expressive Pinot Noir that captures the spirit of Burgundy with authenticity and finesse. Produced by the Julien family in the village of Comblanchien, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this wine is a brilliant introduction to the domaine’s understated but increasingly exciting work under Etienne Julien, who brings a fresh touch to traditional winemaking.

Sourced from vineyards around the Côte de Nuits, including parcels near Nuits-Saint-Georges and Comblanchien, the Origine cuvée offers much more character than a typical regional wine. Etienne works organically in the vineyard, and his cellar philosophy is gentle: native yeast fermentation, minimal extraction, ageing in used French oak barrels, and no fining or filtration.

The result is a Pinot Noir that’s bright, lifted and textured. Expect aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry, dried rose and a hint of underbrush. The palate is supple and pure, with juicy red fruit, fine acidity, and soft tannins that give it a graceful shape. There’s a mineral edge and subtle savoury complexity that speaks of its Côte de Nuits pedigree.

Enjoy this with roast chicken, mushroom and thyme tart, or a simple charcuterie board. While drinking beautifully now, it will evolve over 3 to 5 years in bottle.