Nuits Saint Georges 1er cru Les Damodes 2024 Domaine Lecheneaut

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes 2024 from Domaine Lécheneaut is the historic wine of the house, from vines planted over 50 years ago by Lécheneaut's father, and one of the most elegant and singular Premier Crus of the entire appellation. Situated at the northern edge of Nuits-Saint-Georges, on the border with Vosne-Romanée, the climat Les Damodes produces wines of a singular style, airier and more subtle than the southern Nuits-Saint-Georges. Fruit freshness and purity combine with a fine, tender and supple structure. Approachable in its youth, it surprises with its ability to assert its personality as it ages. Characteristic graphite minerality shines throughout. A Nuits-Saint-Georges built for cellaring, capable of ageing comfortably for 10 to 15 years.

Terroir and vineyard

The climat Les Damodes lies at the northern end of the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, where topography and geology shift profoundly compared to the more structured southern crus. Domaine Lécheneaut's parcel covers 13 ouvrées of Pinot Noir, approximately 55 ares, with vines averaging 55 years old. The soil displays remarkable geological complexity: brown calcareous soils, finely gravelly, with a reddish silty-clay fraction over fine debris of cryoclastic origin from white oolite, combined with weathered rounded limestone blocks known as sheep's heads, resting upon compact pink limestone known as Premeaux limestone with chert levels. This exceptional geological composition is precisely the source of the graphite minerality, natural freshness and floral elegance that immediately distinguish Les Damodes from the more tannic and powerful Premier Crus of the southern part of the appellation. Winemaking follows the domaine's philosophy: hand-harvested grapes, partial destemming according to the vintage, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, 18 months of ageing in oak barrels with approximately one third new oak renewed annually. Each cuvée expresses the terroir with precision and elegance.

Tasting profile

The robe is a deep, brilliant and clear ruby. The nose expresses itself with purity through aromas of black cherry, redcurrant and raspberry, lifted by a floral touch of peony and discreet spice nuances. With aeration, more complex notes of sweet liquorice, undergrowth and wet stone emerge progressively, heralding the characteristic graphite minerality of this Premier Cru. On the 2024 vintage, the remarkable natural freshness and acidity of the year express themselves with particular striking precision and aromatic definition. On the palate, fruit freshness and purity combine with a fine, tender and supple structure of great elegance. The floral touch persists throughout, in the sincere and direct style that marks the absolute character of the domaine. The finish is long, mineral and graphite, with remarkable persistence.

The domaine

Domaine Lécheneaut was founded in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the late 1950s. In 1986, Fernand's two sons, Philippe and Vincent, took over, expanded the domaine to 10 hectares across 18 appellations and modernised its facilities. They produce wines in a classic Burgundian style, with good density but without excess and frank expression of terroirs. Their prices have remained reasonable, making them an excellent reference point on the Côte de Nuits.

Food pairings

This Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes deserves noble dishes such as jugged hare, game like venison, pheasant, or beef fillet with wild mushrooms, lamb rack with Provence herbs or aged cheeses like Époisses. Decanting for 30 minutes is advised in its youth. Served between 15 and 16°C, it will reveal all the aromatic precision, graphite minerality and floral elegance of a northern Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru signed by one of the most principled domaines of the Côte de Nuits.