Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is a Burgundy appellation on the high plateaus and valleys behind the famous Côte de Nuits, producing fresh, fruity Pinot Noir and crisp Chardonnay at accessible prices.
More info about Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Geographic position
Eastern France, in the Côte-d'Or department, on the hills west of the Côte de Nuits, between Dijon and Nuits-Saint-Georges, at 1,000 to 1,500 feet of altitude, across about 20 villages.
Origin & history
Vines have grown on these hills since the Middle Ages, but the vineyards declined after phylloxera. From the 1950s local growers replanted them, and the Hautes-Côtes became an AOC in 1961. The area is also known for blackcurrant growing, used for crème de cassis.
Wines & grape varieties
Mostly red from Pinot Noir, with notes of cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant and a fresh, lively finish. Whites from Chardonnay (and a little Pinot Blanc) are citrusy and mineral.
Climate & soil
Semi-continental climate, cooler than the Côte below due to altitude. Clay-limestone and marl soils on Jurassic limestone, often facing east and south.
Wine region: Burgundy
Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir