Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2023 Méchant Bertin

The Hautes Côtes de Beaune Méchant Bertin 2023 from Domaine Henri Richard is a spirited and honest cuvée, one that wears its character in its very name, the mark of a quiet, hardworking house that prefers to let its wines speak for themselves. Made from Pinot Noir in the direct, fruit-forward spirit of the Coteaux Bourguignons that built the domaine's reputation, this Hautes Côtes red is a wine of immediate pleasure and true terroir, from a domaine certified biodynamic by Demeter since 2018.

The Hautes Côtes de Beaune appellation

Hautes Côtes de Beaune stretches west of the Côte d'Or, across some thirty kilometres between Beaune and Autun, covering 29 villages and more than 800 hectares of vines planted at altitude, between 290 and 500 metres. This rear-slope vineyard sits alongside Burgundy's greatest names, Aloxe-Corton, Pommard, Montrachet among them, without their price tags, making it one of the most compelling appellations for lovers of genuine terroir wines. The soils are composed of marly formations covered with calcareous scree from the Triassic period, and the climate, cooler than the Côte de Beaune due to altitude, gives the reds a natural freshness and aromatic liveliness that sets them apart. Pinot Noir, the noble grape, yields wines dominated above all by fruit, lightness and drinkability, qualities that Domaine Henri Richard has mastered perfectly.

Tasting profile

The colour is a clear, bright ruby, gleaming and inviting. The nose is immediately appealing and expressive, with aromas of honest Pinot Noir, fresh cherry, raspberry, crisp small red fruits, touched by a delicate floral note and a whisper of soft spice. On the palate, the wine is supple, direct and juicy, with silky tannins and fresh acidity that give it lovely tension and fine drinkability. The texture is light and elegant, without over-extraction or oakiness to mask it, in keeping with the domaine's restrained approach, where new wood is almost entirely absent. The finish is fruity, clean and crisp, with frank, natural aromatic persistence. A wine of pleasure and character, to be opened without ceremony.

The domaine

Domaine Henri Richard is one of those quiet treasures of the Côte de Nuits that insiders share among themselves. Founded by Jean Richard in 1938 in Gevrey-Chambertin, who bought his first vines from the writer and historian Gaston Roupnel, the domaine is now run by the fourth generation, Richard and Sarah Bastien, since 2018. A pioneer of organic farming on the Côte de Nuits from 1996 onwards, the domaine obtained organic certification in 2005 before converting to Demeter-certified biodynamics with the 2018 vintage. Across its 4.5 hectares, the domaine produces Gevrey-Chambertin and the Grand Cru Charmes-Chambertin, as well as more approachable cuvées in the spirit of everyday terroir, never compromising rigour for accessibility.

Food pairing

This Hautes Côtes de Beaune Méchant Bertin will shine alongside fine Burgundian charcuterie, jambon persillé, country terrine, roasted chicken with herbs, fresh pasta with wild mushrooms or a plate of soft cheese. Slightly cool around 14–15 °C, it will also be perfect as an aperitif wine, in the spirit of an elegant, unassuming wine of thirst, true to the domaine's soul.