Domaine Naudin-Ferrand - Orchis Mascula 2024
In Magny-lès-Villers, between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaune, Domaine Naudin-Ferrand holds a unique place in the landscape of the Hautes-Côtes of Burgundy. Claire Naudin pursues a very personal path here, away from overly standardized vinifications, with wines that seek to express the vintage, the vegetal, the fruit, and the matter without embellishment. The estate has become known for its meticulous work on regional appellations, often capable of reaching a rare depth when the vine, the aging, and the natural balance are respected. Orchis Mascula 2024 belongs to the domain's "Nature" cuvée family, conceived as a direct expression of Pinot Noir. In this difficult vintage, a particularly strict sorting allowed only grapes capable of supporting whole cluster vinification, without destemming and without added sulfites at the start. The wine comes from several parcels with high qualitative potential, grouped for their exposure and the quality of the plant material. This cuvée does not seek spectacular density but a fine, sincere, and vibrant reading of the Pinot Noir from the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune.
This cuvée is made from Pinot Noir, over an area of 3.84 hectares, with vines aged from 19 to 54 years. The 2024 yield is very low, at 17 hl/ha, which immediately reflects a vintage of selection rather than abundance. The harvest was done manually from September 20 to 22, followed by very careful sorting before whole cluster fermentation. The vinification starts without SO2 addition, with inerting using dry ice, then five days of intracellular fermentation before the first punch down. Alcoholic fermentation then lasts about ten days, with only a few punch downs, following a logic of measured extraction. Pressing is gentle, at 0.7 bar, then barrel aging is done by gravity and without aeration, with 29% new barrels. Aging continues for 12 months on lees before bottling without filtration, accompanied by a moderate addition of sulfites.
The color presents a light intensity, faithful to the late September harvest and a vinification that favors infusion rather than concentration. The nose is initially restrained but reveals delicate fruit, between fresh cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, peony, and fine spice notes. On the palate, the wine has a supple, slender line, with relatively soft tannins that still require some patience to fully integrate. Whole cluster fermentation brings relief, a noble vegetal touch, and a sensation of freshness that gives movement to the whole. The wood remains present in the structure more than in the aroma, supporting the matter without weighing it down. This red will pair very well with refined Asian cuisine, licorice-scented cod, guinea fowl with apples, duck carpaccio, lacquered poultry, or roasted mushrooms. Served around 13°C, after opening one to two hours before the meal, it will better reveal its fruit, its texture, and that slightly wild delicacy that is the charm of Claire Naudin's Pinot Noirs.
Grape variety: Pinot Noir
