Nuits-Saint-Georges, Domaine du Clos Frantin, 2020
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Domaine du Clos Frantin, 2020
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Pinot Noir
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2035
Domaine du Clos Frantin is located at the heart of the Côte de Nuits in a beautiful 18th century estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Over 50% of their 7.3 hectares of vineyards are Premier and Grand Cru sites, all farmed organically since 2018.
The domaine has the largest plantings of Vosne Romanée’s top Premier Cru “Les Malconsorts”, one of the first in line for elevation to Grand Cru status, yet it remains a fiftieth the cost of a bottle of neighbour La Tâche!
Right now, the wine is in an approachable but slightly closed phase — the fruit is there, but the tannins still have a firm edge that benefits from either food or a little air. Over the next two to three years, the primary cherry fruit will begin to integrate with the savoury, earthy notes that are already hinting at something more interesting underneath. By around 2028 to 2030, we would expect the wine to hit a real sweet spot, with the structure softening and the complexity opening up. It should hold comfortably until 2034 or 2035 for those with the patience, after which the fruit will begin to fade and the tertiary notes will dominate. A lovely window ahead of it.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceClear, mid-ruby with a lively garnet rim and good depth for a village wine from this vintage.
NoseRed cherry and dried rose petals upfront, with a savoury undercurrent of forest floor and iron-rich earth that is very much Nuits. There is a freshness to the fruit that 2020 delivers reliably, with a subtle oak spice sitting quietly in support rather than dominating.
PalateMedium-bodied with the kind of firm, precise tannins that are the hallmark of this commune — not austere, but structured and purposeful. The fruit is taut and red-fruited, cherry and redcurrant, with a streak of minerality that runs through to the finish and keeps everything honest. 2020's warmth has added a little extra flesh without tipping into overripeness.
FinishClean, persistent, and savoury, with a lingering iron and dark spice note that is distinctly Côte de Nuits.
Overall impressionA serious village Burgundy with genuine structural ambition — drink it now if you must, but it has more to give.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, this style of Nuits-Saint-Georges would traditionally sit alongside a coq au vin, the long braise pulling out every bit of savouriness the wine has to offer. Boeuf bourguignon is another natural match — the wine's firm tannins cutting through the richness of the braised beef. Locally, you might also find it served with a platter of Époisses or Comté, the assertive washed-rind cheese being one of the rare dairy pairings that holds its own against structured Pinot Noir. A simple roast guinea fowl with lardons and thyme would also be hard to argue with.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 16-17°C — any warmer and the tannins will feel soft and the fruit will lose its definition. A 30-minute decant is worthwhile if you are opening it now, giving the wine enough air to open up without losing the freshness that makes 2020 such a pleasure. A large Burgundy bowl is the glass of choice here, giving the red fruit and earthy aromatics room to unfurl properly.
Nuits-Saint-Georges sits at the southern end of the Côte de Nuits, where the limestone bedrock is overlaid with a patchwork of clay-rich soils that give the wines their characteristic grip and density. The Clos Frantin vineyards benefit from the gentle east-facing slope that runs through the village, allowing good drainage while retaining just enough moisture to keep the vines in balance through drier years like 2020. The soils here tend to be shallower than those further north in Gevrey, which concentrates the fruit and adds to the firm, structured character that defines Nuits at its best.
Nuits-Saint-Georges is the southernmost commune of the Côte de Nuits and the only major appellation on the slope without a Grand Cru — an absence that has always puzzled those who taste the wines. The appellation covers around 300 hectares, with 41 named Premier Cru sites and a village-level AC that still punches well above its station. Compared to the silky, perfumed elegance of Chambolle-Musigny to the north, Nuits tends toward structure and savouriness — more tannic, more earth-driven, with the kind of density that rewards patience. It is one of Burgundy's most reliable addresses for wines that genuinely improve with a few years in bottle.
We'll be honest: 2020 in Burgundy was a vintage that kept everyone on their toes. A warm, dry spring brought early budbreak, then summer turned properly scorching with temperatures hitting 40°C in August. The saving grace came from perfectly timed August rains that rescued the vines from serious drought stress, followed by ideal September weather that allowed for unhurried picking. Yields were mercifully normal after several years of frost-ravaged harvests, and crucially, the heat never tipped into the jammy territory that can plague warmer vintages here.
What emerged were wines with surprising freshness despite the heat, showing ripe fruit balanced by good acidity and lovely mineral precision. The reds have more immediate charm than the structured 2019s, with silky tannins and generous Pinot Noir character, whilst the whites display beautiful richness without losing that crystalline Burgundian tension we adore. This isn't a legendary vintage like 2005 or 2010, but it's thoroughly delicious and more approachable in youth than many Burgundy vintages. The village wines are drinking beautifully now, Premier Crus are just hitting their stride, and the Grands Crus will reward patience for another five to ten years.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Think red cherry, dried rose petal, and forest floor, with a firm mineral spine running through the middle. It is structured and savoury rather than plush or fruit-forward — classic Nuits-Saint-Georges character, with 2020's warmth adding a little extra flesh without losing precision.
When is the best time to drink this wine?
It is drinking well now with a short decant, but we would be reaching for it most eagerly from around 2028 onwards, when the tannins will have softened and the earthy complexity will have properly emerged. It should hold until 2034 or 2035 without difficulty.
Does this wine need decanting?
Yes, a 30-minute decant is a good idea if you are opening it in the next year or two. The wine is still a touch closed and benefits from the air. Pour it into a large Burgundy bowl and give it a moment.
What food should I serve with this?
Coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, or anything involving a long braise with lardons and aromatics. It will also handle a well-aged hard cheese like Comté, or a roast guinea fowl or duck with ease. The key is matching the wine's savoury backbone rather than fighting it with anything too sweet or light.
Is Domaine du Clos Frantin worth paying attention to?
Very much so. The domaine farms organically across some excellent sites in the Côte de Nuits, including significant holdings in Vosne-Romanée's Les Malconsorts — one of Burgundy's most talked-about Premier Crus when it comes to potential elevation. Getting access to their village Nuits is a sensible way into the estate at a fraction of the price of their top wines.
Why does Nuits-Saint-Georges not have any Grand Crus?
It is one of Burgundy's great anomalies. The appellation has dozens of Premier Cru sites of genuine quality — Les Saint-Georges and Les Vaucrains in particular are regularly mentioned alongside the Côte de Nuits' finest plots — but the Grand Cru classification never arrived. Politics, timing, and a degree of historical oversight are all implicated. The wines make the case for themselves regardless of the label.
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