This Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Fontaine Saint Martin Monopole Rouge 2020 comes from a rare monopole vineyard of Domaine Michel Gros , high above the Côte de Nuits. Here you'll taste the signature Vosne Romanée in a cooler, elevated setting, with great finesse and tension. Why is this Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits so appealing to classic Pinot Noir lovers? Because you get the combination of a historic vineyard belonging exclusively to Michel Gros, the excellent 2020 vintage, and the meticulous style of this family estate.
The grapes come from Fontaine Saint Martin, a 7-hectare vineyard in Burgundy's Hautes Côtes de Nuits region, west of the classic Côte d'Or. The vines are situated at an altitude of 350 to 390 meters on a slope with an east-to-southeast exposure, giving them plenty of morning sun while remaining protected from excessive afternoon heat.
The soil is a mix of limestone and marl, with so-called "marnes de Pernand," geologically related to the subsoil of the Corton hills. This gives the Pinot Noir a distinct mineral backbone alongside ripe fruit concentration. An ancient abbey lies in the valley below the vineyard, further underscoring how long this part of Burgundy has been considered a special place for wine.
Fontaine Saint Martin is wholly owned by Domaine Michel Gros, a monopoly built up plot by plot over decades. This is the estate's benchmark for high-altitude Pinot Noir, a contrast to their renowned Vosne Romanée vineyards closer to the village.
At Domaine Michel Gros, the grapes are harvested by hand and rigorously selected in the vineyard, ensuring only perfectly healthy bunches are brought to the cellar. The grapes are then completely destemmed, and fermentation takes place under controlled temperatures, with gentle extraction to preserve the purity of the fruit and the character of the terroir.
After fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels. This aging adds structure, spicy depth, and complexity, without losing sight of the focus on freshness and terroir. In the 2020 vintage, a warm but very successful Burgundy harvest with concentrated yet remarkably fresh red wines, the altitude of the Hautes Côtes adds tension and balance to the glass.
This Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Fontaine Saint Martin Monopole Rouge is made entirely from Pinot Noir . It's Pinot Noir from a high-altitude, relatively cool vineyard, which provides plenty of energy, freshness, and a somewhat tighter structure than you often find in Burgundy on lower slopes.
