2022 Gerard Julien Cotes de Nuits Villages, Nuits-Saint-Georges

A much more floral-suffused nose speaks of wild red currant, spice and more subtle hints of earth and the sauvage. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the rich and suave medium-bodied flavors that retain good detail on the mildly austere and rustic finale. This could use better depth so a few years of keeping are in order.

93 points Allen Meadows burghound.com Jan 2024

Gérard Julien Côtes de Nuits-Villages from Nuits-Saint-Georges is a characterful and finely crafted Pinot Noir that offers exceptional value from the Côte de Nuits. Produced by the Julien family in Comblanchien, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this wine reflects the domaine’s organic farming approach and the increasingly precise, expressive winemaking of Etienne Julien.

Sourced from vineyards in Comblanchien and Premeaux-Prissey, the wine benefits from limestone-rich soils and the cooler microclimate typical of these southern villages. These sites may sit just outside the famed Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation boundary, but in the hands of a committed grower, they can produce wines of real distinction. Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in mostly older oak barrels, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration to preserve purity and texture.

In the glass, it’s aromatic and supple, with notes of wild cherry, crushed raspberry, rose petal and a subtle earthy spice. The palate is fresh and medium-bodied, with silky tannins, bright acidity and a mineral line that gives the wine lift and length. There’s a lovely sense of vibrancy and definition here — unmistakably Côte de Nuits in accent.

Ideal with charcuterie, roast chicken, or mushroom and thyme tart. This wine is approachable young but will also develop over 5 to 7 years.