2016 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Marcel Heritage Vieilles Vignes

2016 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Marcel Heritage Vieilles Vignes

2016 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Marcel Heritage Vieilles Vignes is a powerful, rich and complex wine, which is very round in the mouth with a leather finish. This fruity wine in its first years will become hardier and its flavours will change to earthy, forest and mushrooms. It will match well with some red meats, grilled or in sauce, game and lamb.

Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”

The Domaine RION was founded in 1880 by Pierre Rion, the ex-sharecropper of the Château de la Berchère who had acquired the Château’s vines. His son Louis succeeded him, and during his time, he substantially enlarged the Domaine. In 1952, the Domaine was divided between his 2 sons. The oldest, Marcel Rion, further enlarged the Domaine and stayed in Vosne Romanée. Bernard Rion has helped his father since 1973 and now manages the Domaine with his wife Armelle. These balanced and complete wines are traditionally vinified. Totally de-stemmed, with a long vinification (2 to 3 weeks in open vats), and they are then aged for 18 months (half in new oak barrels). They are pleasant and fruity for the young vintages, but well structured enough to ensure good ageing.