Alain Hudelot-Noellat, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

An introduction to Alain Hudelot-Noellat, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

Malconsorts is one of the most highly regarded Premier Cru Pinot Noir vineyards in Vosne-Romanée, the acclaimed appellation located in the Côte de Nuits area of Burgundy in eastern France. It is widely considered to be a Grand Cru site in all but its name. When the prestigious status was awarded in the area in 1936, the owners of Malconsorts at the time rejected it. This was not an uncommon practice when Cru status was being drawn up around Burgundy in the last century. However, maps and records before establishment of the wine classifications show that Les Malconsorts was regarded as being at the same quality level as that of its neighbours that subsequently acquired Grand Cru status. The powerful, complex Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée Malconsorts Premier Cru displays layers of spicy, tart dark fruit, candied notes, subtle florals, and a lengthy, expressive finish. Its powerful structure makes it ideal for cellaring. Critics’ scores for Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée Malconsorts Premier Cru are regularly over 95-points. For instance, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded the 2012 wine 95-97 points. The domaine produces 300 magnums annually.

Performance

Understanding Alain Hudelot-Noellat, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Burgundy

The domaine cultivates a 0.14-hectare, east-facing parcel in Malconsorts, a vineyard that is located a stone’s throw from the stellar La Tâche site. It shares a similar terroir to its illustrious neighbour with stony clay and limestone soils bringing out the best in the Pinot Noir vines. The vines of Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée are more than seventy years old, resulting in fine, concentrated fruit that is vinified part-destemmed and part-whole cluster for the promotion of balanced fruit and firm, silky tannins in the resulting wines. Fermentation sees ambient yeasts only, a process that contributes to the unique character of each vintage, as does the lack of fining and filtering. Maturation for 16 months in 50% new oak barrels gives this Les Malconsorts a finessed structure and good age-ability. Robert Parker has describes this Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noëllat as ‘outstanding’.

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