Hautes Côtes de Nuits blanc Cuvée Marine 2024 Domaine Anne Gros

The Hautes Côtes de Nuits Blanc Cuvée Marine 2024 from Domaine Anne Gros is one of the most singular and compelling cuvées from the domaine, a high-altitude Chardonnay whose name speaks entirely to its character: Marine. Not a flight of fancy, but a geological reality written into the soil itself, where fossils of ammonites, cockle shells and impressions of marine shells millions of years old imprint on the wine a briny, iodine-tinged and distinctly shellfish minerality that makes it a precious and immediately recognizable curiosity among Hautes Côtes de Nuits. Hailed as one of the finest of its appellation, this is a Chardonnay that awakens the palate and wins you over from the first sip.

Terroir and the vineyard

Cuvée Marine was born from an idea and a dream. When Anne Gros planted this 1 hectare parcel of Chardonnay in the late 1990s on the commune of Concœur, just above Vosne-Romanée, she acted from deep conviction: her observation of soil texture, microclimate and the natural potential of the land had suggested to her that a beautiful Chardonnay terroir lay dormant beneath this hillside. She was right. The Chardonnays are planted in the upper part of a continuous 1.73 hectare parcel, where the soil is deeper and more humid, benefiting from groundwater seepage that maintains a natural freshness irreplaceable at this altitude. The soil is limestone, rich in marine fossils, ammonites, cockle shells and imprints of shells, witnesses to an ancient sea whose geological presence translates directly into the glass as briny minerality, saline sensations and an almost marine character that inspired the cuvée's name. South-east exposure at around 400 metres altitude brings generous sunlight while the winds from behind the slope preserve the freshness and tension that make this Chardonnay singular. Unlike the Pinot Noir from the same parcel, which ripens early despite the altitude, the Chardonnay here matures quite late, giving it a naturally lively acidity and uncommon aromatic precision. Ageing takes place over 12 months on lees in 500 litre barrels with 30% new oak, enough to bring roundness and complexity without ever weighing down the wine's taut, mineral nature.

Tasting profile

The colour is a luminous lemon yellow with green tinges, bright and crystalline. The nose opens with an almost marine character that announces itself with frankness and seduction: notes of oyster shells, iodine and white flowers, acacia and honeysuckle mingle with fresh citrus aromas, lemon and grapefruit, before more exotic touches emerge, pineapple and passion fruit, with a hint of honey and toasted nuts from the ageing. A subtle oak note adds complexity to the development without masking the terroir. On the palate, the material is direct, well-sculpted and energetic: a lively, well-integrated acidity structures a mineral, ample texture, vibrant and full of momentum. The finish is silky and salivating, lightly briny and saline, a direct signature of the marine fossils in the terroir, immediately calling for the next glass and opening the palate with remarkable generosity and freshness. A cuvée best enjoyed in its youth to capture the brightness of its fruit, but capable of a few pleasant years of evolution in the cellar.

The domaine

Anne Gros comes from one of the oldest wine-making families of the Côte de Nuits, the Gros family present in Vosne-Romanée since 1830. She took the helm of the family domaine in 1988, barely eighteen years old, bringing from the outset her sensitivity, rigour and professionalism to the stewardship of 6.5 hectares spread across nine appellations. Her son Paul and daughter Julie are progressively taking on daily operations, ensuring the continuity of a path of excellence built over more than thirty years. Anne Gros excels in the art of Chardonnay vinification, the two whites in the range, the Hautes Côtes de Nuits Cuvée Marine and the Bourgogne Chardonnay, are unanimously praised by enthusiasts for their purity, tension and honesty.

Food pairing

This Cuvée Marine is made for the most obvious marine pairings: fine oysters, a shellfish platter, grey shrimps with beurre blanc, sea bream tartare with citrus, hand-dived scallops steamed or grilled white fish with olive oil. It will also pair well with a quiche of bacon and goat cheese, French onion soup, a terrine of fish with herbs or a plate of fine charcuterie. Perfect as an aperitif served between 10 and 12 °C, it will reveal all the marine minerality and briny freshness of a fossil terroir unique in the world.