Côte de Nuits Villages “Les Retraits” 2023

Wine Description for Côte de Nuits Villages “Les Retraits” 2023 by Jérôme Galeyrand

Character

Jérôme Galeyrand belongs to those quiet perfectionists in Burgundy who work with extraordinary care far from the glare of the spotlight. His Côte de Nuits Villages “Les Retraits” embodies precisely what the finest winemakers of this appellation stand for: Pinot Noir in its most accessible, most honest form – without artifice, without calculation. A wine that does not attempt to appear greater than it is, and for precisely that reason convinces.

Terroir & Origin

The Côte de Nuits Villages forms the northern and southern flank of the great Côte de Nuits – that narrow strip of Burgundian soil on which Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges are at home. “Les Retraits” is a vineyard site designation that points to withdrawn, quietly situated parcels – locations that may not claim the renown of a Premier Cru, yet nonetheless benefit from the geological depth of the Côte: limestone-rich soils, east-facing slopes, a continental climate with long, warm summers and cool nights. The 2023 vintage brought ripe, concentrated fruit to Burgundy with overall good freshness – a year that afforded considerable scope to craftsmanship.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Galeyrand works according to biodynamic principles, with minimal intervention in the cellar and a deep respect for what nature provides. The Pinot Noir – fragile, site-sensitive, unrelentingly honest – is in good hands with him. Ageing typically takes place in used Burgundy barrels, so as not to overlay the terroir but rather to frame it. The result is a wine of fine texture and clear structure, one that bears the signature of its origin.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A versatile table companion: classically with Bœuf bourguignon or Coq au vin, equally harmonious with grilled lamb rack with Provençal herbs. Mature Comté cheese or a simple Poulet rôti also bring out the wine’s elegant fruit in wonderful fashion.