1999 Domaine Georges Roumier Morey-St. Denis Clos de la Bussiere

Georges Roumier et Fils is a 40-acre estate in Chambolle Musigny in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. Founded in 1924 by Georges Roumier, it is now run by the family’s second and third generation winemakers, father Jean-Marie and son Christophe. The wines produced include the Grand Crus Le Musigny, Bonnes-Mares and Corton-Charlemagne, as well as Premier Crus in Chambolle-Musigny, which are Les Amoureuses, Les Combettes, and Les Cras. The estate also has a monopole Premier Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis, which is Clos de la Bussiere. Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that the domaine “is undoubtedly one of the finest sources of classic, long-lived red burgundies….All aspects of the estate’s winemaking are completely traditional.”

Côte de Nuits is the northern part of the Côte d’Or and it includes the most famous vineyards and wine communes in the world. There are more Grand Cru appellations in the Côte de Nuits than anywhere else in Burgundy. Of the fourteen communes, or villages in the Côte de Nuits, six produce Grand Cru wines. They are Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St.-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Flagey-Échezeaux and Vosne-Romanee. Some of the vineyards within the Côte de Nuits are tiny, which adds to their prestige. The fabled Grand Cru vineyard La Romanee is barely two square acres. Altogether there are twenty-four Grand Cru vineyards. The region takes its name from the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Côtes de Nuits produces mostly reds from Pinot Noir, and the wines have been in demand for centuries. During the 18th century King Louis XIV’s physician recommended that for his health the king only drink wines from Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like most of Burgundy, the soils of the Côte de Nuit can vary greatly from one vineyard to another, though most are a base soil of limestone mixed with clay, gravel and sand.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.