Presentation
The Hospices de Nuits was founded in 1270, at the height of the Middle Ages, even before the one in Beaune, as a hospital to take in and treat the poor. Over the centuries, this philanthropic and charitable organization received donations of vineyards, given by rich, local families in order to ensure its survival. The estate, even smaller than the Hospices de Beaune’s, today covers a surface area of 12.5 hectares of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru’s finest vines, including the “Les Didiers” monopole and the prestigious “Saint-Georges”. Since 1961, the wines have been sold “en primeur” in the barrel, at a grand auction held in March at the prestigious Château du Clos de Vougeot, and are then aged and bottled by a Burgundian négociant. In the past, the wines were sold by mutual agreement and the House of Edouard Delaunay, which had had long-standing relations with the Hospices, was entrusted on several occasions with the exclusivity of the vintage. Buying wine at the Hospices de Nuits means participating in a cause for charity (the money raised finances the hospital, retirement home and several associations) that brings together philanthropy, exceptional wines, the art of living and culture in a unique way.
Terroir
The only cuvée from Gevrey-Chambertin among the wines offered by the Hospices de Nuits, this emblematic plot is often wrongly considered as a premier cru, so close is its quality to that of its illustrious neighbors. Located below Les Charmes, it benefits from a remarkable position on well-drained clay-limestone soils. Its reputation is based on the subtle balance between the power typical of Gevrey and the finesse provided by these exceptional terroirs.
Winemaking
Hand-picked with the utmost care, the grapes are brought back to the Hospices winery, destemmed, and then put into tanks by gravity. The winemaking, under the guidance of Jean-Marc Moron, cellar master of the Hospices de Nuits, is traditional. The wine is then put into new barrels and aged in the Hospices cellar until it is taken over by Maison Edouard Delaunay in March. The total aging process lasts about 15 months.
Tasting
Pretty carmine red color. The nose, fine and perfectly balanced, seduces with its elegance and maturity. It reveals warm scents of ripe red fruits (cherry, coulis), enriched with more complex nuances of coffee, licorice, and orange peel. Spicy note of clove. The attack on the palate is velvety and delicate. It harmoniously extends on very coated tannins. The aromas confirm the elegance perceived on the nose, with notes of chocolate, bitter orange, and candied cherry. A very beautiful wine combining perfect maturity and great freshness.
Food pairings
A perfect match for roasted chicken leg with smoked paprika and root vegetables, or a croque-monsieur with smoked ham and mountain Tomme cheese.