More about Odoul-Coquard

Odoul-Coquard is one of those small Côte de Nuits family domaines that quietly holds a remarkable spread of vineyards: about nine hectares stretching from Gevrey-Chambertin to Nuits-Saint-Georges, divided among some twenty appellations and topped by Charmes-Chambertin and Clos de Vougeot.

The domaine is based in Morey-Saint-Denis, and Sébastien Odoul is the fourth generation of his family to work it. His grandfather sold much of the wine to négociants; his father turned to bottling at the estate. Sébastien made his first vintage in 2004 and then did stints at Dujac, Méo-Camuzet and Thierry Mortet. Some of the oldest vines came through his grandmother's family in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and in Morey the domaine owns most of the lieu-dit Les Crais Gillon.

The farming is sustainable, with as few treatments as possible and low yields. In the cellar Sébastien takes a light, minimal-intervention approach: hand-picked, sorted fruit, a cool soak before fermentation, gentle extraction, aging in French oak with new barrels reserved for the top sites, and no filtration. The range runs from a Passetoutgrain, through village wines from Morey, Chambolle, Gevrey and Nuits, to premier and grand crus. Expect elegant, perfumed Pinot Noir with enough structure to age, from a name that still flies a little under the radar.