Georges Noellat

History of Domaine Georges Noëllat

The Noëllat name is deeply rooted in the history of Burgundy's vineyards. Georges Noëllat was the nephew of Charles Noëllat, owner of one of Vosne-Romanée's greatest estates. Its vines later helped form the holdings of the Jean-Jacques Confuron and Hudelot-Noëllat estates and, above all, the renowned Domaine Leroy. After Georges's death, his wife took over before passing the property in 1991 to their daughter Marie-Thérèse Noëllat and her husband Jacques Cheurlin, a winemaker from Champagne.

For some twenty years, from 1990 to 2010, a large share of the vines was leased to major houses such as Louis Jadot and Joseph Drouhin, and the estate kept a low profile. Everything changed in 2010 with the arrival of Maxime Cheurlin, Marie-Thérèse's grandson, who took the reins at just twenty. Raised in Champagne but descended through his mother from Burgundy's Jayer family, and a cousin of Emmanuel Rouget's sons, he supplemented his studies at the Lycée viticole de Beaune with formative internships at Emmanuel Rouget and Gros Frère et Sœur. From his first vintage, he transformed the winery's style, refocusing everything on expressing the terroir and seeking freshness. Within a few years, the estate went from relative obscurity to being a worldwide benchmark, with a reputation extending far beyond its original five and a half hectares.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Georges Noëllat

The estate's true wealth lies in its vineyard holdings. The heart of the vineyard is in Vosne-Romanée, across storied climats: Les Beaux Monts, high on the slope, where thin, stony soils bring power and length; Les Petits Monts, just above La Romanée, where exposed bedrock lends sharp minerality; and Les Chaumes, lower on the slope, where deeper soils favor a silky texture. North of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Aux Boudots, adjoining Vosne, and Aux Cras round out these holdings, while Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin bring other nuances of limestone terroir.

These plots lie on the Côte de Nuits' classic clay-limestone soils, with considerable variations in soil depth, stoniness and exposure according to altitude. The estate has a high proportion of very old vines, some planted before World War II and others approaching a century in age. Maxime Cheurlin farms them all sustainably, without herbicides, plowing and tending the soils carefully while protecting biodiversity. Each plot receives treatment suited to its needs, allowing its individual character to emerge without being homogenized.

Winemaking at Domaine Georges Noëllat

The cellar philosophy is summed up in a word Maxime Cheurlin prefers to “extraction”: infusion. The grapes are harvested by hand, rigorously sorted, then 80 to 100 percent destemmed depending on the vintage. Some cuvées retain a portion of whole clusters for added freshness and complexity. A few days of cold pre-fermentation maceration precede fermentation, which is carried out solely by indigenous yeasts.

The grapes then spend fifteen to eighteen days fermenting on their skins in open oak vats, with precise temperature control. Punch-downs are rare and very gentle: the aim is to let the grapes infuse rather than work them aggressively, preserving the purity of the fruit and the finesse of the tannins. Aging lasts fourteen to twenty months in oak barrels, with the proportion of new oak adjusted to the power of each cru, ranging from thirty percent for regional appellations to one hundred percent for grands crus. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration, preserving their vitality and precise definition.

The cuvées of Domaine Georges Noëllat

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: an entry-level wine from plots extending the great terroirs of Vosne, made with the same care as the crus. It offers crisp red fruit—cherry and raspberry—fine tannins and appealing saline freshness. One of the most affordable ways to discover the estate's airy signature style.

Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge: from the higher slopes behind the Côte, this cuvée benefits from cool nights that preserve its acidity. The nose offers red currant, violet and a hint of pepper; the palate is lithe and easy-drinking. A Pinot Noir to enjoy right away or within five years.

Côte de Nuits Villages: blended from plots at either end of the Côte de Nuits, this appellation yields an honest, well-structured wine here. Dark fruit, licorice and forest-floor notes form a balanced whole, with fine tannins that allow it to age for a few years.

Gevrey-Chambertin: representing the northernmost village in the range, this Gevrey has a denser, darker character than the estate's Vosne wines. Black currant, blackberry and sweet spices dominate, supported by firm yet silky tannins. A wine for the cellar that gains considerably after five to eight years.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Fontenys: a premier cru high on the slope north of the village, on very calcareous, stony soils. It combines mineral tension and dark-fruit aromas with the saline finish characteristic of the winery. A distinguished, precise wine built for long aging.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes: this climat near Les Amoureuses produces the range's most floral and delicate expression. Rose, peony and wild strawberry mingle with a silky texture and remarkably fine tannins. A highly sought-after cuvée of ethereal elegance.

Vosne-Romanée: the heart of the estate's range, this village-level wine comes from several plots across the commune and into Flagey-Echezeaux. Highly expressive, it combines juicy red fruit and floral notes with silky, refined tannins. It frequently rivals premier crus from other estates and improves over eight to ten years.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes: situated low on the slope below Malconsorts, this climat delivers superb texture, without exaggerated power but with remarkable intensity. The bouquet opens with red fruit tinged with violet; the palate combines a smooth entry with notes of blood orange and vanilla, while the estate's characteristic salinity is even more pronounced here.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts: perched just above La Romanée on a steep slope where limestone reaches the surface, this rare climat yields a wine of great distinction. A pronounced mineral note carries its length, the fruit remains delicate, and the finish lingers with crystalline purity. One of the range's finest expressions of finesse.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts: the estate's most complete premier cru, situated high on the slope at the edge of Echezeaux. It brings greater power, length and intensity than the other premier crus, with aromas of black cherry, spice and forest floor. An ambitious wine that needs at least eight years in the cellar.

Nuits-Saint-Georges: from the northern part of the appellation, this village-level wine is more robust and earthier than the Vosne wines, with notes of dark fruit, leather and licorice. The tannins are present but beautifully rounded by aging, while the finish retains the freshness that defines Cheurlin's style.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras: as its name suggests, this climat's very stony soils yield a taut, mineral wine, more lithe than is typical of the appellation. Tart red fruit, flint and spice play off one another against a firm backbone. It grows more generous after a few years of aging.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots: adjoining Vosne-Romanée, this emblematic premier cru combines the depth of Nuits with the elegance of Vosne. The nose reveals dark fruit and a slightly earthy minerality; the palate is substantial and fleshy yet remains refined and delicate. One of the estate's great classics.

Echezeaux Grand Cru: made from very old vines, with some whole clusters used depending on the vintage, this grand cru offers admirable freshness and exceptional aromatic intensity. Spiced red fruit, dried rose and forest floor unfold across a vibrant, saline palate with great persistence.

Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru: the absolute pinnacle of the range, more powerful and more complete than the Echezeaux, it reveals a dense palate and magnificent structure. Black cherry, warm spices, truffle and floral notes form a bouquet of rare depth, followed by fine tannins and an extraordinarily long finish. Produced in tiny quantities, it requires at least ten years of patience and ranks among the Côte de Nuits' most sought-after bottles.