Digioia-Royer Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits Rouge 2022

Notes:

Producer: Domaine Digioia-Royer is a small family estate located in Chambolle-Musigny. The domaine was founded in the 1930s by Victor Moretti and passed through the family before Michel Di Gioia took over in 1999 after studying viticulture in Beaune. Michel gradually expanded the property and, beginning with the 2003 vintage, all of the estate’s wines have been bottled at the domaine. Today Digioia-Royer farms approximately 5 hectares, with holdings spanning Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Savigny-lès-Beaune and the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. The vineyards have been HVE certified since the 2019 vintage and are farmed without chemical herbicides; soils are worked mechanically, while harvesting and green work are performed by hand.
Vineyard: The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge comes from an estate parcel in the commune of Concœur, situated southwest of Chambolle-Musigny. The parcel measures just 0.51 hectare and is planted entirely to Pinot Noir on clay-limestone soils. The vines average approximately 55 years old, giving this regional bottling a notably mature source of fruit. Average production is approximately 3,000 bottles. The Hautes-Côtes de Nuits vineyards sit above and to the west of the main Côte de Nuits slope, and Digioia-Royer’s parcel gives the domaine a distinct source of Pinot Noir beyond its holdings around Chambolle-Musigny itself.
Winemaking: The 2022 is 100% Pinot Noir and follows Michel Di Gioia’s established approach to red Burgundy. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and 100% destemmed before being placed in wooden vats. Maceration and alcoholic fermentation take place under controlled temperatures, followed by pressing and transfer to barrel. The wine undergoes approximately 14 to 16 months of élevage in oak barrels, with only 15–20% new oak. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally during the maturation period. This relatively restrained use of new wood keeps the élevage secondary to the mature-vine Pinot Noir and the character of the Hautes-Côtes parcel.
Technical Details: 100% Pinot Noir. Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Burgundy, France. Estate fruit from the commune of Concœur, southwest of Chambolle-Musigny. 0.51-hectare parcel. Approximately 55-year-old vines. Clay-limestone soils. Hand harvested and 100% destemmed. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats under temperature control. Élevage averages 14–16 months in oak barrels with 15–20% new oak, with natural malolactic fermentation during maturation. Average production is approximately 3,000 bottles.
Food Pairing: The combination of mature-vine Pinot Noir and relatively restrained oak makes this an easy wine to bring to the table. Roast chicken, pork tenderloin, duck breast, grilled sausages and lighter cuts of beef are all natural choices. Mushroom dishes are particularly appropriate, as are lentils, roast root vegetables and charcuterie. For cheese, Comté, Tomme de Savoie or a moderately aged Époisses would pair well.