The wines called "Hautes Côtes de Nuits" or "Hautes Côtes de Beaune" are produced on the hillside situated on the other side of the traditional slope or «côte» where the most famous Burgundy wines are produced. The official appellation "Hautes Côtes" has existed since 1961, but wine has been produced there for the last 100 years or so. All red wines are made with the pinot noir grape and whites with chardonnay as well as some aligolté. Our selection this month is a red, pinot noir from 1997. The reds often have a dark ruby color with flavors of fresh red berries when young, crystallized fruits and sometimes animal aromas when more mature. Their fragrance is firm and heightened by a strong acidity and strongly felt tannins. The tannins and acidic structure of these wines give them the possibility to keep in a good cellar for 3 to 10 years. These red wines go with appetizers, grilled red meats, roasts, and mild cheeses. The Dames Hugettes, Hautes Côtes de Nuits 1997 is the base of our pyramid tasting - a regional or generic wine. Yvan Dufouleur gives us a well-balanced and well-structured wine to age 3 - 5 years. Although many of the 1997 wines we're tasting now are elegant and pleasant - we prefer to wait 6 months to 1 year for this strong wine to smooth out. Yvan has been making the point for many years that quality, durable wines can be made from the lesser-known Hautes Côtes region. The average age of the vines used for Les Dames Huguette is approximately 50 years old, therefore lower yields and more concentration than younger vines. Yvan uses 50% new oak and 50% year-old oak for aging this wine and then blends all casks together in vats before bottling. The wines are aged in casks for approximately 10 months. Total production is approximately 6,000 bottles.

Price per bottle: 64.00FF