Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion : Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru "Clos Saint-Marc" 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru "Clos Saint-Marc" 2020 from Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion

Tasting

Appearance

The color stands out with a deep, dark, intense hue that immediately reflects the wine’s power and concentration.

Nose

The nose reveals dominant aromas of unpitted wild cherries, accompanied by the typical warm-earth character found in wines from Nuits-Saint-Georges. The overall impression conveys remarkable nobility without excessive weight.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a generous body with tannins of incomparable silkiness, bringing a fleshy richness without any drying sensation. Its assertive personality is expressed with balance, while the opulent finish lingers with exceptional length, supported by fine minerality and remarkable complexity.

Food and wine pairings

This Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru "Clos Saint-Marc" 2020 is an ideal match for generous red meats such as a saddle of lamb, a tournedos Rossini, or a rib of beef. It also pairs perfectly with duck breast and aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru "Clos Saint-Marc" 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 17°C. This wine can be cellared until around 2035.

An exceptional Burgundy monopoly with silky tannins

The estate

Founded in 1990, the Domaine Michèle et Patrice Rion now extends over around 8 hectares of vineyards in Burgundy, mainly located in the Côte de Nuits. Based in Prémeaux-Prissey, the estate experienced a decisive expansion in 2000, when Patrice left the family domaine to create his own structure. The acquisition of the monopole Clos Saint-Marc in 2006 marked a major turning point. Certified organic by Ecocert and holding the HVE level 3 label, the estate is now run by Maxime Rion, the founders’ son, who upholds a philosophy focused on balance, minerality, and the expression of terroir rather than maximum extraction.

The vineyard

Clos Saint-Marc is the smallest monopole in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, with just 0.93 hectare. Located on the lower part of the Prémeaux slope, facing the estate, this vineyard lies on fairly deep brown soil over a substratum of white and yellow marls. This marl layer retains water remarkably well, profoundly influencing the expression of the terroir. The vines, averaging 60 years old with some reaching 80 years, benefit from rigorous organic management including winter plowing, spring hoeing, and natural grass cover between the rows. The estate has practiced massal selection since 2014 and has been growing its own rootstocks since 2022.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by exceptionally hot, dry conditions from June through harvest, making it the driest season recorded in 75 years. The vineyard enjoyed more than 40 additional hours of sunshine in April and 180 extra hours during the summer. This record earliness led to some of the earliest harvest dates ever observed. For Clos Saint-Marc, the harvest took place on September 18, with very low yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare due to water stress. Despite these extreme conditions, the vintage produced wines that are remarkably fresh, pure, elegant, and concentrated, with high acidity and crunchy tannins.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for the Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru "Clos Saint-Marc" 2020 are hand-harvested in small 18-kilogram crates, then meticulously sorted on two sorting tables, before and after destemming. The whole berries, along with 25 to 30% whole clusters, are gravity-fed into stainless-steel tanks for a vatting period of around three weeks. After an initial cooling to 11-12°C for several days, fermentation takes place over two weeks, with the temperature kept below 32°C. Punch-downs are carried out by hand and pressing is done at very low pressure. Aging continues for 15 to 18 months in oak barrels with around 50% new oak, on fine lees without racking, followed by homogenization in stainless-steel tank for one to two months before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir