Nestled just above the famed Nuits-Saint-Georges, the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits region offers an exciting and often underappreciated expression of Burgundy’s terroir. Jean Tardy & Fils’ "Cuvée Maelie" 2020 highlights this lesser-known appellation with a Pinot Noir that strikes a remarkable balance between approachability and finesse. The cooler climate of the Hautes-Côtes allows the grapes to develop a clarity and freshness that are often lost in warmer regions.

This wine captures the essence of the higher elevations, where mornings are cool, and the vines face a unique challenge of ripening while maintaining acidity. The result is a wine that feels vibrant, fresh, and energetic, with a purity that feels both bright and intricate. There’s an underlying minerality to this wine that adds structure, yet it maintains an elegance that feels restrained and poised—a reflection of the region’s cool, breezy mornings and steep slopes.

"Cuvée Maelie" is more than a simple Burgundy; it’s a wine that takes you beyond the familiar labels of Côte de Nuits and offers something that feels deeply connected to the land. It pairs beautifully with everything from fresh poultry to charcuterie, but its true beauty lies in its ability to offer depth and complexity without needing years in the cellar. Whether enjoyed young or with a little age, this wine reveals the essence of Burgundy’s ability to deliver quality and terroir with every bottle.