2024 Côte-de-Nuits Villages, Maxime Cheurlin Noëllat

Côte de Nuits Villages is finally having its moment in the spotlight, thanks in part to the new generation of talented winemakers (think Camille Thiriet, Pauline Genot or Alix Millot) that have had to show off their skills in less expensive appellations as a result of the crazy land prices of more illustrious vineyards. Whilst Maxime is lucky enough to have some prize plots elsewhere, he is also rather good at turning his hand to this burgeoning appellation. He farms his own vines in Comblanchien, just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, but also has a contract to farm a parcel in Brochon, to the north of Gevrey, known as Queue de Hareng, that has just been upgraded to Fixin, but as he has blended the two plots together it has to be labelled a Côte de Nuits Villages. It is beautifully lush and svelte and packed with refreshing, bright flavours that verge on the succulent. Terrific value for money here. Stock up!