2024 Faiveley Les Damodes Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru, Burgundy

There is a lovely touch of Vosne Romanée elegance about Les Damodes, a Premier Cru vineyard tucked into the northern slopes of Nuits Saint Georges. Its elevated position and limestone rich soils produce Pinot Noir with fragrant fruit, delicate spice and the structure to age beautifully. Domaine Faiveley, founded in 1825, remains one of Burgundy's great family estates, with seventh generation siblings Erwan and Eve Faiveley at the helm and Jérôme Flous directing winemaking.

Les Damodes sits close to the boundary with Vosne Romanée, where the cooler hillside conditions encourage freshness and aromatic finesse. The challenging 2024 vintage required meticulous vineyard management and careful fruit selection, producing wines that favour elegance and definition rather than sheer richness. This is a particularly attractive expression of Nuits Saint Georges, combining the village's characteristic depth with a lighter, more graceful touch.

Luminous ruby red with delicate garnet highlights. Wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry mingle with violet, dried rose petals and a suggestion of cinnamon. The palate is supple and beautifully detailed, with bright red fruit, finely woven tannins and refreshing acidity. Subtle notes of sandalwood, crushed limestone and autumn leaves contribute to a lingering, savoury finish.

Wonderful alongside duck and ginger dumplings, roasted quail with cherries, or a delicate tart of wild mushrooms, leeks and thyme. For a seafood option, try lightly seared ocean trout with beetroot, lentils and a little horseradish.

Cellaring: 2028 to 2040. Attractive in its youth with careful decanting, although several years in the cellar should reveal greater aromatic complexity and beautifully softened tannins.