Domaine Hudelot Noellat Alain, Richebourg Grand Cru AOP

Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat has extensive vineyard holdings based around the Noëllat heartland of Vosne-Romanée and covering all the villages from Nuits St Georges to Chambolle-Musigny. Charles Hudelot arrived at the domaine to take over from his grandfather Alain in 2008, assisted also by Vincent Munier who has been working there since 2005. There is no intention to deviate from the previous style of fine, fragrant wines however.

Small changes include the purchase of a new destemmer which sends the grapes into the fermentation vats uncrushed. The vineyards continue to be run according to lutte raisonnée though Charles is open to an organic approach in the future. New oak remains unobtrusive, with 20% for the village wines and up to 50-60% for the grands crus wines.

The Hudelot-Noëllat Richebourg is generally poured last in any tasting at the domaine, but it’s not an especially big or tannic wine, even in cooler, more traditional vintages. This is racy, elegant and very detailed, with less texture and plushness than you sometimes find in wines from the Grand Cru, but an engaging thread of minerality and a fine, refreshing finish.

“The Hudelot-Noëllat Richebourg is generally poured last in any tasting at the domaine, but it’s not an especially big or tannic wine, even in cooler, more traditional vintages. This is racy, elegant and very detailed, with less texture and plushness than you sometimes find in wines from the Grand Cru, but an engaging thread of minerality and a fine, refreshing finish. Drinking Window 2024 – 2032. (TA)” – Decanter

“As usual, the king of the cellar at Domaine Hudelot-Noellat is the 2018 Richebourg Grand Cru, a magical wine in the making that blossoms in the glass with complex scents of cherries, wild berries, candied peel, peonies, spices and smoked meats. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with an ample chassis of ripe tannins, considerable concentration and lively acids, concluding with a long, intense finish. (WK) 95-97+” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate