BERTRAND AMBROISE Nuits-Saint-Georges 2020 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Bertrand Ambroise Nuits-Saint-Georges 2020 is a concentrated, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from a warm Côte de Nuits vintage. Deep garnet with a bright rim, the nose shows red cherry, wild strawberry and blackberry, layered with rose petal, forest floor and cured meat; gentle oak offers clove and cedar. Medium-to-full bodied, it opens juicy then a ripe, grainy tannic spine provides drive and shape, while fresh acidity lifts the finish. Savoury mid-palate notes of beetroot, black tea and a saline seam add complexity, finishing with black pepper and bittersweet chocolate. Serve 14–16°C. Food pairings: roast duck with cherry jus, coq au vin, beef bourguignon, pan-seared foie gras. Dunell’s 94 — “focused, satiny finish; best 2024–2032.”

ABOUT THIS WINE
The 2020 growing season in the Côte de Nuits was marked by a warm, early summer and a late season heat spike that produced concentrated fruit with ripe tannins; careful picking and sorting were essential to retain freshness. Bertrand Ambroise Nuits-Saint-Georges 2020 is pure Pinot Noir from well situated parcels that favour depth and savoury complexity. Grapes are hand harvested and fermented with gentle extraction to preserve perfume while achieving ripe phenolics. Whole bunch inclusion is used selectively to add structural lift and floral lift. Elevage is in French oak with a modest proportion of new barrels, judged to support rather than dominate the fruit, and the wine is racked minimally to retain texture and clarity.

The wine pours a deep garnet with a bright rim and offers an open, appealing nose. Red cherry and wild strawberry lead, then darker notes of blackberry and plum unfurl, layered with rose petal, crushed raspberry and a thread of ironstone. Subtle savoury elements of forest floor, dried mushroom and cured meat sit beneath the fruit, adding depth and a quintessential Burgundian earthiness. Oak contributes gentle spice, clove and a whisper of cedar rather than overt toast.

On the palate the 2020 is medium to full bodied, direct and immediate. The attack is juicy with vibrant red fruit before a firmer mid palate tannic spine asserts itself, giving the wine drive and shape. Tannins are ripe and grainy, providing structure for mid term ageing while acidity remains fresh enough to lift the finish. Mid palate savoury notes of beetroot, black tea and a saline mineral seam appear, then a hint of black pepper and bittersweet chocolate frames the close. The texture is satiny rather than rustic and the progression through the palate is focused.

Suggested drinking window 2024 to 2032. Serve at 14 to 16°C. Food pairings include roast duck with cherry jus, coq au vin, beef bourguignon, pan seared foie gras on toasted brioche, mushroom risotto or aged comté. Overall this Nuits-Saint-Georges combines ripe 2020 generosity with terroir expression and reliable cellaring potential.

DUNELL'S 94 points
Colour is deep garnet with a bright rim. Aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry and blackberry unfold with rose petal and crushed raspberry, underpinned by savoury notes of forest floor, dried mushroom and cured meat. Oak is subtle with spice, clove and a hint of cedar. On the palate it is medium to full bodied, juicy up front with firmer mid palate structure that gives drive and shape. Tannins are ripe and grainy while acidity keeps the wine lifted. Savoury touches of beetroot, black tea and a saline seam lead to a focused, satiny finish. Best 2024 to 2032.

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ABOUT BERTRAND AMBROISE
Bertrand Ambroise is a thoughtful vigneron based in Nuits Saint Georges whose wines reflect the mineral driven character and structural clarity of Côte de Nuits vineyards. The domaine farms a collection of small parcels around Nuits Saint Georges and nearby communes, often on clay and limestone soils that give the wines their density, saline tension and aging potential. Vines are generally mature and managed with care to produce concentrated, site expressive fruit.

The domaine is family run with Bertrand Ambroise overseeing both vineyard and cellar work. His approach is practical and site focused rather than doctrinaire. Vineyard practices emphasize canopy management, yield control and selective hand harvesting so that only healthy, ripe grapes reach the winery. Soil health and sustainable measures are priorities adapted to each parcel.

In the cellar Ambroise aims to preserve primary fruit and terroir identity while building structural complexity. Red wines undergo careful sorting, gentle extraction and parcel by parcel vinification to retain aromatics and fine tannin. Maturation is usually in French oak with proportions and toast levels chosen to support rather than dominate the fruit. Extended élevage and judicious racking are used to integrate texture and enhance aromatic nuance.

Stylistically Bertrand Ambroise reds typically show ripe red and dark cherry, subtle spice, floral notes and an underlying mineral thread. The wines balance early appeal with the structure to age for several years, developing earthier and tertiary notes with time. Overall Ambroise represents a quietly accomplished Nuits Saint Georges producer whose attentive vineyard work and measured cellar techniques yield wines that speak clearly of site and vintage.