▻ Nuits-St-Georges with Jasper Morris MW

10 Minute Masterclass

25 Mar

Written By Sarah Kemp

In conversation with Jasper Morris MW

Episode Summary:-

In our new 10 Minute Masterclass series, on Burgundy, Jasper Morris MW explores the appellation of Nuits-St-Georges with Sarah Kemp. Jasper is the world’s leading expert on Burgundy, author of the award-winning book “Inside Burgundy,” and founder of the acclaimed subscription website www.insideburgundy.com. We begin with Nuits-Saint-Georges, situated between Dijon and Beaune, at the heart of the Côte d’Or, where you will find 300 hectares of Pinot Noir; the other 10 hectares are Chardonnay, according to the official website, but Jasper reveals they are in fact mostly Pinot Blanc.

The soil is clay and limestone, and Jasper explains how he breaks down the appellation into three separate parts: the south around Premeaux, the centre around the town of Nuits-St-Georges, and north, closer to Vosne-Romanée. About half of the appellation are Premiers Crus, and he advises looking out for Aux Boudots, Aux Murgers and La Richemone at the northern end of the appellation and Clos de la Maréchale and Les Saint-Georges. Nuits-St-Georges does not have any Grands Crus, but Jasper says there is a move to create one, Les Saint-Georges.

There are about 150 people making wine in Nuits-St-Georges, but about 50 are actually situated in the appellation. Jasper names Domaine Henri Gouges, Robert Chevillon, Domaine Faiveley, Thibault Liger-Belair, Domaine Rion, Domaine de la Vougeraie and Domaine de L’Arlot as the main players. While there are not many new producers in Nuits-St-Georges, there are properties to look out for due to generational change. Jasper highlights Alix at Jean-Marc Millot, Clement at Georges Chicotot and Jean Marshall, son of Yorkshire man Tim Marshall of Domaine Tim Marshall as talented producers to watch.

If you are looking at value for money, Jasper’s advice is to seek out the Côtes de Nuits Villages which offer good Burgundy at more reasonable prices. He also notes, “I’d advise people on the whole, if you want to have a serious collection, it is probably best to buy them when the opening offers are made, when you are buying them in case or in bond.”

And then, there’s the all-important question of taste. “The reputation is based around the central bit, relatively deep in colour, full-bodied by Burgundy standards, real depth of flavour, a lot of tannins, wines that need time,” Jasper says. However, he explains that if you go to the south, to Premeaux, you find a lighter style with fewer tannins, a more elegant style, while if you head north, nearer Vosne-Romanée, you start to discover a hedonistic profile based on a solid core, suave and fine-boned.

Jasper’s obscure fact? The team of Apollo 16 delivered a bottle of 1969 Nuits-St-Georges to the moon.

Running Order:-

0.00 – 4.57

“Nuits-St-Georges has been more difficult to sell than the most famous appellations, I think wrongly.”

– Where Nuits-St-Georges is located.
– Size of the appellation and main grapes.
– Its terroir.
– The Premier Crus to look out for.
4.58 – 10.57

“If you go south to Premeaux, it’s a bit lighter, fewer tannins, a more elegant style.”

– Where to find value.
– What it tastes like.
– New developments.
– Jasper’s obscure fact about the appellation.