2011 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-St.-Georges Les Vaucrains

Robert Chevillon in Nuits St. Georges has 27 acres of vineyards, some with vines up to 75 years old. The domain’s eight premier crus are considered some of the finest in the region. The estate is run by Robert Chevillon and his sons Denis and Bertrand, and, like many vignerons in Burgundy, the family’s roots in winemaking go back at least to the 19th century. Domaine Chevillon is known for its policy of long, slow fermentation. Burgundy writer Clive Coates has called the estate “a splendid domaine with a marvelous palette of premier crus…(that are ) rich, classy, individual and more opulent than most.” Besides the red wines the estate makes a rare Nuits-Saint-George blanc.

Les Vaucrains is a 15.5-acre Premier Cru vineyard in Nuits-Saints-Georges, in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuits. It is in the southern part of of the appellation. Because there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Nuits-Saints-Georges, the appellation’s considerable reputation rests on its excellent Premier Crus. Burgundy writer Clive Coates calls this vineyard part of the “greatest climat in Nuits-Saint-Georges.” The vineyard is 260 – 280 meters in elevation with rocky soil heavy with sand and clay. Coates calls Les Vaucrains “vigorous and rich and full-bodied.”

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.