Nuits-Saint-Georges 'Les Damodes' 2018 - Aurélien Verdet

THE WINE

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru "Les Damodes" 2018 from Aurélien Verdet is a beautifully poised Pinot Noir from one of the appellation's most sought-after Premier Cru vineyards, located on the northern edge of Nuits-Saint-Georges, bordering Vosne-Romanée. This privileged site lends the wine an uncommon combination of power and finesse. Aromas of black cherry, wild raspberry, ripe plum, and violet unfold alongside layers of sweet spice, forest floor, crushed stone, and subtle hints of truffle and cedar. The palate is concentrated yet remarkably refined, with silky tannins, vibrant acidity, and exceptional purity of fruit. The vineyard's limestone-rich soils provide a distinctive mineral backbone that brings precision and energy, while restrained oak ageing enhances complexity without overshadowing the wine's elegance. The finish is long, seamless, and persistent, revealing floral perfume, savoury spice, and remarkable depth. A sophisticated Premier Cru with impressive ageing potential, it beautifully bridges the muscular character of Nuits-Saint-Georges with the elegance often associated with neighbouring Vosne-Romanée. 

THE WINEMAKER

Aurélien Verdet is one of Burgundy's most respected modern vignerons, producing small quantities of terroir-driven wines from organically farmed vineyards across the Côte de Nuits. Having taken over the family estate in 2005, he has built a reputation for precision, purity, and minimal intervention. Meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and hand harvesting are complemented by gentle extraction, native yeast fermentations, and carefully judged maturation in French oak, allowing each climat to express its unique identity. His philosophy prioritises freshness, transparency, and balance over extraction or oak influence, resulting in wines of exceptional elegance and ageing potential. Today, Verdet's wines are recognised for their crystalline fruit, refined structure, and faithful expression of Burgundy's finest terroirs.