La Maison Romane Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2023

La Maison Romane is a Burgundy house founded by Oronce de Beler in 2005, buying fruit from trusted growers and helping farm their plots biodynamically, working the land with two horses. This red comes from the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, the cooler, higher ground above the Côte de Nuits proper. The greater altitude and exposure give a longer, slower ripening and a wide diurnal range, so the Pinot Noir holds fresh acidity and a lighter frame than the valley-floor villages. Fruit is picked by hand for a first sorting in the field, with a second selection in the cellar. Ageing in used oak adds gentle oxygen exchange without overt wood flavour, keeping the fruit clear. The colour is pale ruby. The nose leads with red cherry and wild strawberry over rose and a savoury forest-floor edge. The palate is light to medium bodied, with fine, low tannin, bright red-currant acidity and an earthy, spiced finish. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees in a wide Burgundy glass. It suits roast duck, guinea fowl and mushroom dishes.