Nuits-Saint-Georges — The Powerful Pinot Noir Appellation of the Côte de Nuits

Nuits-Saint-Georges is a communal appellation of the Côte de Nuits in the northern Côte d’Or. It covers the communes of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Premeaux-Prissey and ranks among the most structured, tannic and long-lived Pinot Noir appellations in Burgundy. With around 305 hectares in total — of which roughly 143 hectares lie in 41 classified Premier Cru climats — it is one of the largest village appellations of the Côte de Nuits and the only major village appellation in the sub-region without a Grand Cru.

The History of Nuits-Saint-Georges

Origins and medieval viticulture

The vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges have been cultivated since the early Middle Ages. The name of today’s benchmark climat “Les Saint-Georges” first appears around the year 1000 in connection with the Abbey of Saint-Vivant de Vergy, which farmed part of the commune. The place-name “Nui” first appears in 1060 in documents of the same abbey; its etymological origin is contested — proposed roots include an Old French word for a flooded valley floor and a derivation from the walnut tree (noix), which was widespread in the region before 1709.

The wines of Nuits gained international recognition by the 15th century under the Burgundian dukes of the House of Valois.

The 1892 renaming: the link with the Les Saint-Georges vineyard

The commune has carried its current double name since 1892. Like many other Côte d’Or villages — including Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Puligny-Montrachet — Nuits chose to prefix its most famous vineyard’s name to the village name. The choice fell on Les Saint-Georges, regarded for centuries as the benchmark climat of the appellation and central to its outward identity.

The Apollo 15 story: Nuits-Saint-Georges and the Moon

Beyond Burgundy, Nuits-Saint-Georges became known through an unusual connection to space travel. Jules Verne, in his 1865 novel De la Terre à la Lune, mentioned in passing a “fine bottle of Nuits” carried aboard by his fictional lunar travellers. In May 1971 the astronauts of the Apollo 15 mission — David Scott, Alfred Worden and James Irwin — visited Clos de Vougeot after a stop at the Le Bourget aerospace centre and received as a gift six bottles of the cuvée Terre-Lune, vintage 1969. On 25 July 1971 a telegram from Cape Kennedy arrived at the Mairie of Nuits-Saint-Georges, in which Scott and Irwin announced that they had named a large crater at the foot of Mons Hadley Delta after Verne’s novel: “Saint George Crater”. The commune still commemorates this with the street sign “Place du Cratère Saint Georges” in its centre.

AOC classification: decrees and legal foundations

The appellation Nuits-Saint-Georges was officially recognised as an AOC by decree of 11 September 1936. Premier Cru status was confirmed on 14 October 1943. The current cahier des charges was most recently homologated by arrêté of 24 December 2024 and published in the Journal Officiel on 3 January 2025.

Location and Geography

Where is Nuits-Saint-Georges?

Nuits-Saint-Georges lies in the southern part of the Côte de Nuits, roughly midway between Dijon to the north and Beaune to the south, immediately south of Vosne-Romanée and north of Ladoix-Serrigny. The town is the southernmost village appellation of the Côte de Nuits and gives the whole sub-region its name (côte = hill; de Nuits = of Nuits). The town itself has around 5,000 inhabitants.

The two communes of the appellation: Nuits-Saint-Georges and Premeaux-Prissey

The appellation spans two administratively separate communes that form a viticultural unit. Nuits-Saint-Georges contains the northern and central part of the vineyards; Premeaux-Prissey, just south of the town boundary, contributes roughly a quarter of the Premier Cru area. Wines from both communes may be marketed under the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. The Meuzin river, flowing west to east through the town, forms the informal dividing line between the northern and southern vineyard strips.

Vineyard position: exposure and slope

The vineyards form a narrow band along the mid-slope of the Côte d’Or escarpment, at an altitude of around 250 to 350 metres. Most Premier Cru climats face east to south-east, capturing the morning sun and benefiting from sheltered afternoon positions. Higher-altitude climats — including Les Vaucrains and Les Perrières — tend to a more westerly exposure, which can present ripening challenges in cool vintages but produces wines of unusual depth and concentration in warm years.

Classification and Vineyard Area

Why Nuits-Saint-Georges has no Grand Cru

Nuits-Saint-Georges is the only major village appellation of the Côte de Nuits without an officially classified Grand Cru — a circumstance with historical roots. When the Burgundian hierarchy was consolidated in the 1930s, the appellation was under the decisive influence of Henri Gouges, then mayor of Nuits-Saint-Georges and the village’s most prominent grower. Gouges is said to have opposed a separate classification of individual vineyards in order to preserve the economic unity of the appellation and to prevent the négociant houses — which sold most of the wine as generic “Vin de Nuits” — from having to pay higher taxes on Grand Cru lots. That decision still sets Nuits apart from all its neighbouring communes today.

41 Premier Cru climats: scope and distribution

The appellation has 41 classified Premier Cru climats covering around 143 hectares in total, spread across both communes. About a quarter of these climats lie in Premeaux-Prissey. Individual climats may be marketed under an overarching vineyard name; wines drawn from several Premier Cru parcels without a single-vineyard designation are simply labelled “Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru”.

Village, Premier Cru and the question of Grand Cru status for Les Saint-Georges

The total area of around 305 hectares divides into roughly 160 hectares at village level and 143 hectares of Premier Cru. Since 2007, Thibault Liger-Belair — the largest single owner in Les Saint-Georges with just over two hectares — has actively pursued elevation of Les Saint-Georges to Grand Cru. The application was submitted to the INAO National Committee in 2025 and currently involves drafting a dedicated cahier des charges to which all 13 parcel owners must agree. Whether and when a decision will be reached remains open.

Terroir and Geology

Three geological zones at a glance

The terroir of Nuits-Saint-Georges shows remarkable internal differentiation, which feeds directly and causally into the styles of the individual climats. Three principal geological zones can be distinguished, succeeding one another from north to south.

Zone 1: the northern sector — limestone and finesse near Vosne-Romanée

In the northern sector, between the edge of Nuits and the boundary with Vosne-Romanée, Bathonian limestone with a low clay content dominates, overlaid by colluvium of limestone and gravel. Soils are shallower, well drained and more mineral-rich than further south. This substrate explains why climats such as Aux Boudots or La Richemone stylistically move close to Vosne-Romanée: brighter fruit, finer structure, with floral notes and a silkier texture.

Zone 2: the central sector — Comblanchien limestone and marl

In the middle section, south of the Meuzin to the centre of the village, Comblanchien limestone mixes with fossil-bearing marl layers (marnes à Ostrea acuminata). These soils are deeper and warmer than in the northern sector, producing broader, more substantial wines with a pronounced mineral undertone.

Zone 3: Premeaux-Prissey — clay-limestone and maximum structure

In the southernmost section, on the Premeaux-Prissey side, clay-rich limestone with a higher proportion of marl and significantly more loam dominates. These heavier soils produce the most full-bodied and densely structured wines of the entire appellation. The character is markedly earthy, at times with an almost austere minerality — the climats Clos de la Maréchale, Clos des Argillières and Aux Perdrix are textbook examples of this terroir expression.

The geology of Les Saint-Georges: why this vineyard claims Grand Cru status

In Les Saint-Georges itself, a tectonic fault running from the north-west brings fragmented limestone to the surface, producing exceptionally fine drainage and very shallow topsoil. Thibault Liger-Belair argues that precisely this well-drained, shallow substrate is the defining feature of all Grand Cru soils on the Côte de Nuits — and that Les Saint-Georges therefore belongs geologically in their ranks.

The role of the Meuzin river in the Nuits terroir

The Meuzin, which flows from the hills west of the town eastwards through Nuits-Saint-Georges, has over millennia deposited an alluvial fan of pebbles, gravel and sediment. This alluvial fan shapes the soils particularly in the northern and central sectors and, together with the slope geology, explains the unusually wide stylistic range within a single village appellation.

Climate

Continental climate with a pronounced diurnal range

The climate of Nuits-Saint-Georges is markedly continental: cold winters, warm to hot summers, and significant day-to-night temperature swings during the ripening phase from August to September. Cool nights preserve acidity and freshness even in warm vintages — a decisive factor for the pronounced backbone that distinguishes Nuits wines from many other Pinot Noir appellations.

Vintage character: when does Nuits-Saint-Georges shine?

Cool to moderate vintages in the Côte de Nuits have often proved particularly favourable for Nuits-Saint-Georges. The structural underpinning of the wines carries them through any short-term aromatic reticence, whereas extreme heat vintages can produce massive, unbalanced wines in the tannic southern climats. Recent benchmark vintages for Nuits-Saint-Georges include 2015, 2019 and 2023; 2012 and 2014 are regarded as underrated, well-balanced vintages.

Grape Varieties in Nuits-Saint-Georges

Pinot Noir: the dominant variety

Pinot Noir dominates the appellation with around 97 per cent of plantings. The cahier des charges names Pinot Noir as the principal variety; Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are permitted as ancillary varieties in red wines up to a maximum of 15 per cent, but are almost never used in practice.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc: a rare bottle

White wine accounts for less than 3 per cent of total production and is spread over a handful of parcels, including Clos Arlot, Aux Chaignots and the Terres Blanches. Just under 3.5 hectares are officially classified as Premier Cru Blanc — one of the smallest white-wine areas of any village appellation in the Côte de Nuits.

Domaine de l’Arlot produces, with its Clos Arlot blanc (Chardonnay), one of the most mineral and sought-after white-wine rarities of the Côte de Nuits. Domaine Henri Gouges makes, from a natural colour mutation of Pinot Noir — a genetic change that arose in the 20th century in some parcels of the estate — a white wine that botanically belongs to Pinot Noir and stylistically stands outside any white Burgundy convention.

Style and Flavour Profile

What does a Nuits-Saint-Georges taste like?

Nuits-Saint-Georges embodies a Pinot Noir style that stands clearly apart from the elegance paradigm of its immediate neighbours. Young wines often show dark cherry, blackberry and bilberry, complemented by violets, clove and undergrowth notes. In good Premier Cru sites a dry, limestone- and iron-marked minerality comes to the fore. The tannins are more present and firmer than in Chambolle-Musigny or Vosne-Romanée, without tipping into astringency when extraction is handled carefully.

How does Nuits-Saint-Georges evolve over time?

With bottle age — often only after five to ten years for Premier Crus — the wines unfold additional complexity: leather, dried herbs, mushroom, cigar box and an increasingly silky texture that dissolves the initial austerity. Top bottles from Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains or Aux Boudots can sustain this development over two decades or more.

Stylistic differences between the north and south of the appellation

A clear internal stylistic difference exists between the northern and southern poles of the appellation — a direct reflection of the geological differentiation:

The northern climats near Vosne-Romanée (Aux Boudots, Aux Murgers, La Richemone, Les Damodes) tend towards more brightness, floral expression and silky structure. They are accessible earlier and show the smallest stylistic distance from Vosne-Romanée.

The southern climats (Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains, Les Cailles, Pruliers, Les Porrets) deliver darker, more concentrated wines with higher tannic presence, pronounced spice and a longer development arc. They embody the classic, idiosyncratic character of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

The Premeaux climats (Clos de la Maréchale, Clos des Argillières, Aux Perdrix) stand stylistically apart — fuller-bodied thanks to the higher clay content, sometimes with a more delicate aromatic register; Jasper Morris MW describes the difference as the stylistic spectrum “between Asian and African elephants”.

The Premier Cru Climats of Nuits-Saint-Georges

The leading vineyards in the northern sector

Aux Boudots adjoins Les Malconsorts in Vosne-Romanée and is regarded as the most elegant expression of northern Nuits. Méo-Camuzet owns one of the most sought-after parcels here and vinifies it with Vosne-style precision.

Aux Murgers sits on the south-east-facing mid-slope, with Comblanchien limestone and oyster fossils in the subsoil. Powerful yet approachable, the vineyard has considerable ageing potential.

La Richemone is mostly farmed by Vosne-based producers — among them Méo-Camuzet — who can therefore command correspondingly higher prices.

Les Damodes is known for mineral tautness and longevity; Domaine de la Vougeraie produces here one of the most reliable and consistent cuvées of the appellation.

Aux Chaignots offers the highest density of producers among the northern Premier Crus; Mugneret-Gibourg, Faiveley and Chevillon are the best-known names.

Aux Thorey is a five-hectare site with a distinctive south-east exposure thanks to a terrain depression; in earlier times accorded tête-de-cuvée status.

The leading vineyards in the southern sector

Les Saint-Georges (7.52 hectares) is the benchmark vineyard of the entire appellation — explicitly so designated by Jasper Morris MW. Thibault Liger-Belair, the largest single owner with just over two hectares, has been pursuing a formal Grand Cru application since 2007. For many, the site is the most convincing candidate for Grand Cru elevation in the whole of the Côte de Nuits.

Vaucrains lies higher up the slope than Les Saint-Georges, with a slightly more westerly exposure, and shares essential geological features with its neighbour. Firm, austere and long-lived, Vaucrains requires considerable bottle age.

Les Cailles (immediately south of Les Saint-Georges) is concentrated, earthy and many-layered; the cuvée from Robert Chevillon is regarded as the reference.

Pruliers is the archetypal, old-school Nuits-Saint-Georges: muscular, dark-fruited, built for long cellaring. Henri Gouges produces here one of the densest wines of the appellation.

Les Porrets-Saint-Georges / Clos des Porrets — Gouges holds a monopole on the Clos portion; a dense profile with plum notes and precise acidity.

The leading vineyards in Premeaux-Prissey

Clos de la Maréchale (monopole Domaine J.-F. Mugnier) — owned by the Mugnier family since 1902, leased to Faiveley between 1950 and 2003; since Mugnier’s return in 2004 it has matured into one of the most elegant and sought-after wines of the entire southern Nuits.

Clos des Argillières — clay-rich soils, high concentration potential; Prieuré-Roch is among the best-known proprietors.

Clos des Forêts Saint-Georges and Clos Arlot — both monopoles of Domaine de l’Arlot; Clos des Forêts as a red wine of mineral precision, Clos Arlot as both a red and a white Premier Cru.

Aux Perdrix — not to be confused with Aux Champs Perdrix in northern Nuits; Domaine des Perdrix is the principal producer.

Vinification and Élevage

Principles of winemaking in Nuits-Saint-Georges

The natural tannic structure of Pinot Noir from the limestone- and mineral-rich slopes of the appellation calls for gentle extraction. Over-extended maceration or overly intense punch-downs risk wines with hard, unintegrated tannins. The leading producers favour controlled maceration of 15 to 25 days, moderate temperatures, and a vinification that preserves the natural acid structure.

Oak: from tradition to modernity

Élevage in barrel typically lasts 14 to 18 months in French oak. The proportion of new oak is traditionally higher in Nuits-Saint-Georges than in some of the finesse-focused neighbouring appellations, but the trend of the last two decades is clearly moving towards less new wood and more precision in fruit expression. Faiveley and Liger-Belair use noticeably more oak; Chevillon and Gouges work in a traditionally more restrained register.

Leading Producers in Nuits-Saint-Georges

The first tier of the appellation

The appellation counts around 150 growers, of whom roughly 50 are based within the appellation itself. According to the consensus view of Jasper Morris MW and other reference authors, the following domaines form the first tier:

Domaine Robert Chevillon is considered by many to be the quintessence of Nuits-Saint-Georges: single-vineyard, precise Pinot Noirs without superfluous oak, drawn from a total of nine Premier Cru climats.

Domaine Henri Gouges is the historically most significant estate of the appellation, with parcels in numerous Premier Cru climats. The wines demand patience but reward the cellarman with classical, unvarnished Nuits style. The estate also produces the unique Nuits-Saint-Georges blanc from a Pinot Noir colour mutation.

Domaine J.-F. Mugnier has vinified Clos de la Maréchale as a domaine bottling since 2004 and now ranks among the appellation’s first tier.

Domaine Sylvain Cathiard owns parcels in Aux Murgers and Aux Thorey and approaches these Nuits climats with the same precision and ambition the estate brings to Vosne-Romanée and Romanée-Saint-Vivant.

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair is the most active proponent of Grand Cru elevation for Les Saint-Georges and produces increasingly refined, structured wines that were once known for an occasionally dominant oak profile.

Domaine de l’Arlot (Premeaux-Prissey) stands for the most elegant expressions of the Premeaux sector; Clos des Forêts rouge and Clos Arlot blanc are highly sought after by collectors.

Domaine Faiveley is the largest producer by area among the top growers; the portfolio runs from solid village wines to the prestige cuvée Georges Faiveley from Les Saint-Georges.

Domaine de la Vougeraie is particularly convincing in Les Damodes and Aux Chaignots.

Other producers worth seeking out

Domaine Daniel Rion & Fils, Domaine Jean-Marc Millot, Jean Chauvenet, David Duband, Georges Chicotot, Jean-Jacques Confuron, Bertrand Machard de Gramont, Domaine Prieuré-Roch and Domaine Gérard Mugneret are reliable names with substantial reputations both within and beyond the appellation.

Market Prices for Nuits-Saint-Georges

Village level: an accessible entry into the Côte de Nuits

Compared with its better-known neighbours, Nuits-Saint-Georges is regarded as the value appellation of the Côte de Nuits — an assessment that still holds for village wines and for the smaller Premier Crus. Village-level wines from serious producers typically cost between EUR 30 and 80 per bottle and offer a dependable price-to-maturity ratio.

Premier Cru: a broad price range by vineyard and producer

• Premier Cru (classic vineyards): frequently between EUR 60 and 150; climats such as Aux Chaignots, Aux Thorey or Les Damodes from renowned producers sit in this range.
• Premier Cru (top vineyards): Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains, Aux Boudots and Aux Murgers from the leading domaines achieve between EUR 120 and 350; Thibault Liger-Belair’s Les Saint-Georges and Méo-Camuzet’s Aux Boudots exceed this level in strong vintages.
• Exceptional producers: for bottles from Domaine Leroy or Domaine Prieuré-Roch, market prices from several hundred to over EUR 1,000 are not unusual.

When to buy: en primeur or secondary market?

Jasper Morris MW recommends buying wines from the most sought-after producers on opening offers — that is, en primeur or shortly after release — since later purchase on the secondary market (auctions, Wine-Searcher) commands significantly higher prices. Nuits-Saint-Georges is also an appellation in which the price trajectory of the top vineyards remains dynamic thanks to the ongoing Grand Cru application for Les Saint-Georges: since the campaign began in 2007, prices for that vineyard have risen noticeably.

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Ageing Potential and Drinking Window

How long can Nuits-Saint-Georges age?

Well-made Premier Cru wines from strong vintages typically have an ageing potential of 15 to 25 years; top bottles from Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains or Aux Boudots can exceed this horizon. Village Nuits-Saint-Georges from careful producers is often at its peak after five to ten years.

The most common mistake: opening too early

Opening too early is the most common mistake when handling Nuits-Saint-Georges. Most Premier Crus from the southern sector — Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains, Pruliers — need at least eight to twelve years for the tannins to integrate and aromatic complexity to unfold. Northern sites (Aux Boudots, Les Damodes) are occasionally accessible earlier but also benefit from patience.

Vintages with particularly good ageing potential

Vintages with good acid structure and classical balance are best suited to long-term cellaring. Particularly layered long-distance runners are 2015, 2019 and — based on initial positive assessments — 2023. 2012 and 2014 are regarded as underrated, well-balanced vintages for Premier Crus, with attractive structure for medium-term ageing.

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Nuits-Saint-Georges Compared with Its Neighbours

Nuits-Saint-Georges versus Vosne-Romanée

The immediate stylistic comparison with Vosne-Romanée suggests itself: both communes share geological continuity in the northern sector and the Meuzin alluvial fan as a common geological influence. Yet the overall styles differ markedly. Vosne on average produces more elegant, silkier Pinot Noirs with a floral, early-accessible primary expression and a barely tangible finesse. Nuits is earthier, more tannic and mineral-rougher — which is not a judgement but a description of a stylistic fork that reflects terroir, history and grower tradition in equal measure. For collectors on a tighter budget, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru often offers more substance per euro than a comparable Vosne-Romanée village.

The importance of Nuits-Saint-Georges in the fine-wine market

As the value appellation of the Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges is particularly interesting for collectors looking for Premier Cru Burgundy with pronounced ageing potential and a clear terroir-bound identity, without having to pay the premiums that are now taken for granted on wines from Gevrey, Chambolle or Vosne. The ongoing Grand Cru debate around Les Saint-Georges adds to the appellation’s profile and has noticeably influenced price dynamics at the top of the appellation in recent years.

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Food Pairings for Nuits-Saint-Georges

What dishes pair with Nuits-Saint-Georges?

The pronounced tannic structure, mineral depth and savoury character make Nuits-Saint-Georges a wine that calls for and rewards aromatically robust dishes. Young Premier Crus pair particularly well with duck breast, fillet of beef, game (roe deer, red deer, wild boar) and aged cheese. As the bottle ages, the wine opens up for classic French dishes such as coq au vin, braised veal and truffle dishes. Village wines work well already in their youth alongside grilled dishes and full-flavoured pasta.

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FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Nuits-Saint-Georges

Does Nuits-Saint-Georges have Grand Cru vineyards?

No — Nuits-Saint-Georges is the only major village appellation of the Côte de Nuits without an officially classified Grand Cru. When the Burgundian hierarchy was established in the 1930s, no single vineyard was singled out; reportedly Henri Gouges, then mayor and the leading grower, rejected a separate classification on economic grounds. Since 2007 an elevation of Les Saint-Georges to Grand Cru has been actively pursued; a formal application was submitted to the INAO National Committee in 2025.

How does Nuits-Saint-Georges differ stylistically from Vosne-Romanée?

Nuits-Saint-Georges is generally more structured, earthier-mineral and more tannic than Vosne-Romanée. Vosne wines tend towards silky texture, floral expression and earlier aromatic accessibility, whereas Nuits — particularly the southern Premier Crus — needs more cellar time and offers more pronounced grip and minerality. The northern part of the appellation, close to the boundary with Vosne-Romanée, shows the smallest stylistic distance between the two communes.

How many Premier Cru vineyards does Nuits-Saint-Georges have?

The appellation comprises 41 classified Premier Cru climats covering around 143 hectares in total, spread across the communes of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Premeaux-Prissey. Roughly a quarter of the Premier Cru area lies in Premeaux-Prissey. Wines drawn from several climats without a single-vineyard designation are marketed as “Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru”.

What does a good bottle of Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru cost?

Market prices vary considerably by vineyard and producer. Classic Premier Cru climats from solid producers — Chevillon, Gouges, Chauvenet — start at around EUR 60 to 80 and reach about EUR 150 for renowned single vineyards. Top bottles from Les Saint-Georges or Aux Boudots from the leading domaines cost between EUR 150 and 350; for exceptional producers such as Leroy or Prieuré-Roch, significantly higher prices are the norm.

Is there white wine from Nuits-Saint-Georges?

Yes, although Nuits-Saint-Georges blanc is decidedly rare: less than 3 per cent of the appellation is planted to white varieties. Domaine de l’Arlot produces a mineral Premier Cru with the Clos Arlot blanc (Chardonnay); Domaine Henri Gouges makes, from a genetic Pinot Noir colour mutation, a stylistically unique white wine without parallel in Burgundy. Both cuvées are among the most sought-after rarities of the entire Côte de Nuits.

When should you open a Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru?

Most Premier Crus from the southern sector — Les Saint-Georges, Vaucrains, Pruliers — need at least eight to twelve years for the tannins to integrate and aromatic complexity to unfold. Northern vineyards such as Aux Boudots or Les Damodes are occasionally accessible earlier but also benefit from patience. Village Nuits-Saint-Georges from careful producers can be drunk after four to seven years, though it rarely loses quality if you wait another five.

Which vintages are particularly recommended for Nuits-Saint-Georges?

Outstanding recent vintages for Nuits-Saint-Georges include 2015, 2019 and 2023, which combine ripeness, freshness and structural integrity. Underrated, well-balanced vintages for Premier Crus are 2012 and 2014. Anyone planning to cellar wines for ten years or more should favour vintages with good acid structure; extreme heat vintages can feel massive in the tannic southern sites.