Hautes Côtes de Nuits rouge 2019 Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer

The Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge 2019 from Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer is one of the most sought-after bottles from the back slopes of the Côte de Nuits, produced by a domaine founded in the 1950s through the marriage of two winemaking families from Vosne-Romanée and Magny-lès-Villers, taken over in 2017 by André Hoffmann following the death of Gilles Jayer. Hoffmann-Jayer establishes itself vintage after vintage as a benchmark producer of Hautes Côtes de Nuits, recognised by the Hachette Wine Guide. A cuvée of remarkable intensity, powerful and vigorous, yet refined, without any roughness.

Terroir and vines

This Hautes Côtes de Nuits red comes from parcels located across several lieux-dits in the communes of Magny-lès-Villers and Villers-la-Faye, including Le Perchy, Sous le Mont and La Flie, on the chalky and rocky hillsides of the back slopes at altitudes between 350 and 450 metres. These rocky and calcareous terroirs, well-drained and well-exposed, impose a natural stress on Pinot Noir that concentrates the grapes with incomparable intensity and precision for a back-slope appellation. The domaine notably owns one hectare of 60-year-old Pinot Noir on the lieux-dits En Foigery and Les Castaings in Magny-lès-Villers, whose deep roots and naturally very low yields are the source of the remarkable concentration and complexity of this cuvée. Winemaking follows the precise and rigorous philosophy of Alexandre Vernet: total destemming, cold pre-fermentation maceration, spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats, then long ageing of 18 to 20 months for two-thirds in 228-litre barrels at 20% new wood and one-third in stoneware or terracotta vessels, a rare and original container that preserves freshness and amplifies terroir expression. Bottled without filtration.

Tasting profile

The robe is a deep garnet red with purple tinges, showing a density and luminosity that immediately reveal the natural concentration of these old vines. The nose opens onto wild berry aromas, black cherry, very ripe dark fruits and chalky notes that speak to the minerality of the calcareous terroir. Spiced and subtly floral notes, with well-integrated wood influence, enrich this bouquet with remarkable complexity and precision. On the palate, the structure is intense, powerful and vigorous, yet refined and without any roughness, a mark of long, precise ageing. The texture is ample and silky, carried by a chalky minerality that brings tension and length. The tannins are fine and elegant, the acidity fresh and well-integrated. The finish is long and caressing, with a return of dark fruits and spices that confirms the nobility of this back-slope terroir in capable hands.

The domaine

Founded in the 1950s in Magny-lès-Villers following the marriage of two winemaking families, one from Vosne-Romanée and the other from Magny-lès-Villers, Domaine Jayer-Gilles was among the pioneers of its generation in demonstrating the potential of Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Nuits appellations, producing wines of remarkable intensity and ageing potential. In 2017, Gilles Jayer handed his domaine to André Hoffmann, a passionate vineyard lover, who entrusted management and winemaking to Alexandre Vernet, a young Burgundian whose talent and precision quickly won over enthusiasts and the press. The 11-hectare domaine includes parcels in Échezeaux Grand Cru, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges village, Côte de Nuits-Villages, and these fine Hautes Côtes de Nuits whites and reds.

Food pairings

This Hautes Côtes de Nuits red pairs beautifully with duck breast with cherries, beef Wellington, roasted pumpkin with wild mushrooms, rack of lamb with Provençal herbs, or aged cheeses such as Époisses or Comté. Decanting for 30 minutes is recommended. Served between 14 and 16 °C, it will reveal the full fruited depth, chalky minerality and tannin elegance of an old-vine Hautes Côtes de Nuits from one of the most precise and convincing producers of the Burgundy back slopes.