Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge, Maxime Cheurlin, 2022
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge, Maxime Cheurlin, 2022
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Pinot Noir
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2030
The 2022 Hautes-Côtes de Nuits from Maxime Cheurlin is lively and elegant, showing bright red berries, a touch of rose, and gentle spice. The palate is medium-bodied and juicy, with clean acidity, silky tannins, and a subtle mineral-peppery finish that keeps it poised and refined.
Maxime Cheurlin, famed winemaker for Georges Noëllat, also bottles a negociant range of thrilling wines under his own name, which offer cracking value.
This 2022 is drinking beautifully now, with its primary fruit still vibrant and the tannins perfectly integrated. Over the next couple of years, expect the red berry fruit to settle slightly while the mineral and spice elements become more prominent, creating a more complex but still elegant profile. The wine should hold its peak until 2030, after which the fruit may begin to fade while earthy, forest floor notes emerge. Unlike grand cru Burgundy, this isn't built for decades of cellaring, but it will reward those who cellar it for 4-6 years with increased complexity and depth.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright ruby red with good clarity and a youthful rim.
NoseFresh red berries lead the charge, with strawberry and raspberry backed by delicate rose petals. There's a gentle spice note, like white pepper and a hint of forest floor, that adds complexity without overwhelming the fruit. Clean and inviting with that distinctive Burgundian lift.
PalateMedium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with juicy red fruit supported by silky tannins that feel polished rather than grippy. The acidity is bright and clean, giving the wine real energy and preventing any sense of heaviness. That mineral-peppery character from the nose carries through, adding structure and interest to the fruit.
FinishClean and persistent, with the mineral notes lingering longest and a gentle spice warmth that keeps you coming back.
Overall impressionThis is Burgundy that delivers on both elegance and approachability, showing real winemaking skill at this price point.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, this style of Pinot Noir would typically accompany the region's rustic yet refined cuisine. Think coq au vin made with the same wine, where the silky tannins complement the tender chicken and the wine's acidity cuts through the rich sauce. Local charcuterie like jambon persillé or andouillette would work beautifully, as would the region's famous beef bourguignon, though perhaps a lighter version than what you'd serve with a Gevrey-Chambertin. The mineral backbone makes it perfect with the local goat cheeses like Chaource, while the gentle spice notes echo the herbs used in traditional Burgundian cooking.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 15-16°C, which is cooler than many expect but allows the wine's elegance to shine through. No need to decant this wine; it's ready to pour and enjoy straight from the bottle. Use a standard Burgundy glass with a wide bowl to concentrate the delicate aromatics, or even a smaller Pinot Noir glass if you have one. The wine benefits from a gentle swirl to release those rose and spice notes, but it's approachable enough that you don't need to overthink the service.
The Hautes-Côtes de Nuits sits in the hills behind the main Côte d'Or slope, where vineyards climb to 400-500 metres altitude. The soils are predominantly limestone and clay, similar to the famous slope below but with more marl and less concentrated exposure. The higher elevation brings cooler nights and longer ripening, producing wines with natural freshness and mineral precision. This elevated position creates a distinctive style: less power than the grand crus below, but with an elegant tension that defines great Hautes-Côtes.
Hautes-Côtes de Nuits covers the hillside vineyards west of the main Côte de Nuits slope, stretching from Chenôve to Corgoloin. Created in 1961, the appellation allows both red and white wines, though Pinot Noir dominates the plantings. The regulations mirror standard Burgundy AOC rules but the terroir tells a different story: higher, cooler, and more affordable than the famous villages below. These wines offer genuine Burgundian character without the prestige pricing, making them increasingly popular with those seeking authentic regional expression rather than trophy bottles.
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Bright and elegant with red berries, rose petals, and gentle spice, finishing with a distinctive mineral-peppery character that's classic Burgundy.
When should I drink this wine?
It's lovely now and will remain at its best until 2032. No need to wait, but it will reward a few years of cellaring with increased complexity.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Classic Burgundian dishes like coq au vin or beef bourguignon, but it's elegant enough for roasted chicken, duck, or even salmon with herbs.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve at 15-16°C in a Burgundy glass. No need to decant, just pour and enjoy straight from the bottle.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
While drinking beautifully now, it will develop more complexity over 4-6 years. It's not a decades-long cellar candidate, but patience will be rewarded.
How does this compare to other Burgundy?
This offers genuine Burgundian character at a fraction of the price of famous village wines. It's made by the winemaker behind Georges Noëllat, so the quality is serious.
OUR GROWERS
Maxime Cheurlin
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