Originally known as Nuits, then Nuits-sous-Beaune, in 1892 it opted to append it’s name to one of its most important vineyards, Les St.Georges. The most obvious though, is the lending of it’s name to the entire Cote which fittingly ends there (or starts if coming from the south). The commune has no Grand Cru vineyards, a diplomatic decision made by the mayor of the time Henri Gouges in preferring not to single out any vineyard for the highest status.
The appellation falls into two parts, divided by the town itself with the northern section extending to Vosne-Romanée, and the southern section which is partly in Nuits-Saint-Georges and partly in Premeaux. The wines vary according to their provenance - The wines with the most finesse are in the north (associated with Vosne), the richest and most sought-after are those just south of Nuits-St Georges with those lighter in body, in the south around the village of Prémeaux.
The red wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges generally have a deep, dark robe. The powerful, complex nose blends cherry, blackcurrant, fur, truffle, and often spices. These are among Burgundy's most tannic wines, and their balancing roundness makes them full-bodied and solid.
“And lastly, to crown the repast, Ardan had brought out a fine bottle of Nuits, which was found ‘by chance’ in the provision-box. The three friends drank to the union of the earth and her satellite.”
Around the Moon by Jules Verne
The book and passage served as inspiration for the Apollo15 astronauts, who in 1971 christened the crater closest to their landing site, Saint Georges. At the base of the crater, along with a bit of Texan soil, they placed a label of Nuits-Saint-Georges cuvée Terre-Lune.
While members of the Mongeard family have been in Vosne-Romanée since 1620, it was the marriage of Eugène Mongeard to Edmée Mugneret in the 1920s that brought together vineyards from both families. Even then, the fruit was sold to producers such as Marquis d'Angerville and Henri Gouges and it was on Henri Gouge's advice that, in 1945, Eugène and Edmée's son Jean began estate-bottling the wine for the first time and releasing them commercially under the name Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret. Today, this large and important domaine is run by their grandson, Vincent Mongeard.
With approximately 30 hectares, spread over 35 different appellations including prized parcels including a great assortment of Grand Crus such as Échézeaux, Vougeot, Grands- Échézeaux and Richebourg, not to mention 10 premier crus in both the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune, this is an excellent source for well-priced, top end burgundies that have excellent concentration and drink well in their youth but also have the structure and stuffing to age extremely well too.
