Cote De Nuits Red The Cote De Nuits is probably the greatest expanse of Pinot Noir vines in the world. All but one of the Grand Cru reds are found here, the exception being
Corton
in the Cote De Beaune. Named after the village of
Nuits St George
The vineyards lie on the slope between the plain to the east, and the hills to the west. It is this south easterly aspect of the vineyards that give so much of that essential sunlight to ripen the noble grapes.
Cote De Beaune Red The Cote De Beaune is the southerly part of the Cote D'Or, starting just north of Ladoix-Serrigny and stretching down to Maranges the newest of the Beaune Appellations.
Ladoix
a little heard of appellation in the UK, looks out onto the famous hill of
Corton
and is home to my favourite producer Jean Rene Nudant. Maranges is right next to
Santenay
and tends to be rustic like its neighbour. The Cote De Beaune is probably my favourite region for red Burgundy wine production. The wines are more approachable than the wines of the region's sister the Cote de Nuits. As such expect to pay an average of about £12 - £14 for wines that will always please.. not everybody, and I make no apologies if you don't get it.... more for me. Sante!
Cote Chalonais Streching down from south of Chagny, home of the famous Lameloise restaurant, the Cote Chalonais offers slightly better value wines than the rest of the Cote D'Or. The reds can be a bit lighter than the Northern counterparts of the Cote De Beaune, although some Mercurey wines can be quite tannic and robust in their youth. The Cave de Buxy presents itself as one of the best examples of a co-operative in the region, and the countryside on the back road all the way down to Cluny and the start of the Maconais is idillic.
Beaujolais The Beaujolais adjacent to the Maconais region of Burgundy is a picturesque symphony of rolling hills. There are eleven Cru wines where the name of the village appears on the wine with the exception of
Moulin A Vents
at Romaneche Thorins, named after the famous windmill.
The wines are made of the Gamay grape and tend to be young fresh fruity and often light wines, but not to be dismissed. I have started many a person who doesn't like red wine on
Fleurie
and then developed them through Pinot Noirs.
