Lovely dark red colour. Bright nose of small red fruits (raspberry, redcurrant, cherry) with a slightly wild bramble note, so typical of the Hautes-Côtes, and deep nuances of spices (cumin, thyme) and camphor. Very nice attack on the palate, balanced and long, vibrant, fresh and elegant at the same time. It finishes on a slightly licorice note and a refreshing salinity.

Our cuvée is made from a blend of Pinot Noir from the finest terroirs of the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. The grapes come from plots located on the slopes of Villars Fontaine (50%), which are at the same latitude as Vosne-Romanée, from the place called Les Dames Huguettes (33%) overlooking Nuits-Saint-Georges, from plots located in Magny-les-Villiers and Villiers-la-Faye (15%), and on the hill of Vergy at an altitude of 450m (2%). These terroirs, mostly exposed East-Southeast and located 150m above the Côte, maintain cool nights throughout the grapes' ripening period, thus giving all their characteristics of purity and freshness to the wines.

Each plot is vinified and aged separately. The grapes are 100% destemmed, with the exception of the plot on the Vergy hill (2%), which is vinified in whole harvests. Rapid vinification at a controlled temperature not exceeding 29°C preserves the characteristic freshness of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits wines. Aging in barrels (17% new barrels) lasts 9 months.

The future of Burgundy... The Hautes-Côtes de Nuits are the birthplace of the Delaunay family, based in Etang-Vergy since 1954. Located on soils similar to those of the Côte's grands crus, a few kilometers west of their illustrious neighbors, they offer exceptional terroirs to discover. Their altitude, 100 to 150 meters higher, can be a response to climate change by offering fresh, pure, and elegant wines. True to our history, we wish to contribute to revealing these terroirs of the future that will enrich our beautiful Burgundy climates, as the monks of Citeaux did in the Middle Ages. Les Rouards is a first expression of a selection of the best plots of the Hautes-Côtes. The quality of its terroir could lead it to become, in the coming years, a future premier or grand cru of the region.