Maison Bertrand Ambroise 2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges Rouge 750ml

Maison Ambroise carries genuine, deep roots in Burgundy — the estate's origins trace to the 18th century, when only a handful of small parcels were worked around Nuits-Saint-Georges. Bertrand Ambroise took over the vineyard from his father-in-law in 1987, and the domaine is now run by his children, François, Ludivine, and their sister Maud, who continue to welcome visitors personally into the estate's original 18th-century cellars. The family has developed a genuine organic philosophy over the years, earning Ecocert certification in 2013, and they've de-stemmed their Pinot Noir since 2002, using extended maceration — sometimes running as long as 28 days — specifically to build riper, more integrated tannin structure.

This 2021 bottling is sourced from four distinct sectors located close to the domaine, in the southern part of the appellation. As François Ambroise himself described the challenging 2021 growing season directly: "comparatively with others, 2021 was not too bad here — we only lost 50%! In 2016 we lost 75% — you could almost say that we did well! I started my harvest in the Côte de Beaune and then waited five days before harvesting in the Côte de Nuits. 12.5° to 13.5° was the result. I think it a real Burgundy vintage and I only used a little sugar to make the fermentation longer." He noted the wine's genuinely deep color that year came from keeping fermentation temperatures elevated toward the end, with cuvaisons running up to 25 days.

Burgundy Report's own direct barrel tasting, conducted with François Ambroise in Premeaux in November 2022, described the wine as "almost black — more like a 2020!" The reviewer found the nose "more roast and less interesting — almost forced" at that early stage, but noted "the breadth and flavour are much more accessible and interesting than the nose," adding that "if the nose opens and calms this will be excellent." This is genuinely powerful, structured Nuits-Saint-Georges from a family estate with real organic credentials and centuries of history in exactly this corner of the Côte de Nuits — a wine that, per the winemaker's own account, was still finding its full expression at the time of barrel tasting, and would be expected to continue developing with bottle age.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Maison Ambroise dates back to the 18th century, when only a few small parcels were planted around Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy. Bertrand Ambroise took over the vineyard from his father-in-law in 1987, and the estate is now run by his children, François, Ludivine, and Maud, based in Premeaux-Prissey, a small village near Nuits-Saint-Georges in the heart of the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. The domaine has developed a genuine organic farming philosophy, certified by Ecocert in 2013, and has de-stemmed its Pinot Noir since 2002.

This 2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges is sourced from four distinct sectors close to the domaine, in the southern part of the appellation. Harvest in 2021 began in the Côte de Beaune, followed five days later by harvest in the Côte de Nuits, with grapes reaching 12.5° to 13.5° natural potential alcohol. Fermentation ran with extended cuvaison, up to 25 days, with elevated temperatures maintained toward the end of fermentation to help build the wine's deep color.

Critics Reviews

No independently confirmed critic score is available for this specific village-level 2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges bottling at this time.

Burgundy Report (extended barrel-tasting note, with François Ambroise, November 25, 2022):
"2021 Nuits St. Georges, from 4 sectors all close to the domaine in the south. Almost black — more like a 2020! Today the nose is more roast and less interesting — almost forced. But the breadth and flavour are much more accessible and interesting than the nose. If the nose opens and calms this will be excellent."

François Ambroise, Maison Ambroise (on the 2021 vintage generally):
"Comparatively with others, 2021 was not too bad here — we only lost 50%! In 2016 we lost 75% — you could almost say that we did well! I started my harvest in the Côte de Beaune and then waited 5 days before harvesting in the Côte de Nuits. 12.5° to 13.5° was the result. I think it a real Burgundy vintage and I only used a little sugar to make the fermentation longer. The colours are deeper here — I kept the temperature high for a while when the ferments were finishing and had cuvaisons up to 25 days."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep and initially roasted, with dark, smoky character noted at barrel stage — expected to soften and open further with bottle age.

Palate
Powerful and accessible, with genuine breadth and flavor intensity, reflecting the wine's deep color and extended maceration.

Finish
Structured, with real potential to continue developing — the winemaker's own account suggests a wine still finding its full expression at the time of tasting.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roast duck
• Grilled or braised red meat
• Mushroom-forward dishes
• Aged, earthy cheeses