The Côte de Nuits is the northern half of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, home to Chambertin, Musigny, Romanée-Conti, and some of the most famous red wines in the world. We focus on small family domaines and the villages that get less attention, and this guide covers the ones we know best.
The Côte de Nuits appellations, from Marsannay and Fixin in the north to Nuits-Saint-Georges
The slope is a narrow strip of hillside running roughly 20 kilometres, from Marsannay just south of Dijon to Nuits-Saint-Georges and the villages just beyond it. It is almost entirely Pinot Noir. The vineyards face east and southeast, and the soils change from village to village: iron-rich limestone in Gevrey-Chambertin, lighter and more fragile soils in Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. Side by side, a Gevrey and a Chambolle from the same vintage and quality level taste like different wines.
The Côte de Nuits has the highest concentration of Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy, including Chambertin, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Bonnes-Mares, Échezeaux, and Romanée-Conti. Every Grand Cru here is red except Musigny Blanc, made in tiny quantities by a handful of domaines in Chambolle-Musigny.
Where to start in the Côte de Nuits
New to the Côte de Nuits? Start in Marsannay, the northern gateway, with Charlopin-Tissier’s Bourgogne Rouge ‘Montre Cul’ or Marsannay ‘La Montagne’.
Then try two village wines side by side, to taste the difference between the two villages. Mark Haisma’s Gevrey-Chambertin blends three parcels with 50–60% whole-cluster fermentation. His Chambolle-Musigny comes from two parcels, one next to Les Amoureuses.
Then a Premier Cru or Grand Cru:
- Amiot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes, a Premier Cru that borders Clos de la Roche.
- Haisma Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots, a single parcel in the southern part of the village, close to the Chambolle-Musigny border.
- Amiot Clos de la Roche, the domaine’s flagship, from vines planted between 1947 and 1962 and aged 16 to 18 months in oak.
Villages at a glance
| Village | Varieties | Winemakers we work with |
|---|---|---|
| Marsannay | Pinot Noir (also some Chardonnay and rosé) | Charlopin-Tissier |
| Côtes de Nuits-Villages | Pinot Noir | Charlopin-Tissier |
| Gevrey-Chambertin | Pinot Noir | Mark Haisma, Amiot |
| Morey-Saint-Denis | Pinot Noir | Amiot, Mark Haisma |
| Chambolle-Musigny | Pinot Noir | Mark Haisma |
| Vougeot | Pinot Noir | Mark Haisma, Charlopin-Tissier |
The villages, north to south
Marsannay
Marsannay sits at the northern gateway to the Côte de Nuits, just south of Dijon. It is the only appellation in Burgundy with significant production of red, white, and rosé. The village was historically overshadowed by the Grand Cru villages further south, which kept prices reasonable. In recent years winemakers have pushed for Premier Cru classification for several sites, including Les Longeroies, Clos du Roy, and La Montagne.
Domaine Charlopin-Tissier farms several Marsannay sites, including La Montagne and Le Chapitre.
Their Bourgogne Rouge ‘Montre Cul’ comes from a lieu-dit of the same name in Marsannay. The name means “show your backside.” Officially it refers to the steep slope that made workers bend forward to tend the vines. Unofficially, it’s a message to the Dijonnais.
Côtes de Nuits-Villages
Côtes de Nuits-Villages is the appellation at both ends of the Côte de Nuits. It covers Brochon and Fixin in the north, and Corgoloin and Comblanchien in the south, where the slope widens and the limestone sits closer to the surface.
Domaine Charlopin-Tissier sources from Brochon, just north of Gevrey-Chambertin, on the same limestone ridge. The farming is organic. The grapes are fully destemmed, with cold maceration and no filtration. Shop the 2022 Côtes de Nuits-Villages Rouge.
Gevrey-Chambertin
Gevrey-Chambertin
The largest appellation in the Côte de Nuits and home to nine Grand Crus, more than any other village in Burgundy. Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze sit at the top, flanked by Latricières, Mazoyères, Charmes, Chapelle, Griotte, Ruchottes, and Mazis. Below them are 26 Premier Cru vineyards, and below those a wide village appellation where quality depends on the winemaker.
Mark Haisma makes wine in Gevrey-Chambertin from a cellar in the village. His village wine blends three parcels with 50–60% whole-cluster fermentation.
Domaine Amiot et Fils farms the Premier Cru Les Combottes, a climat that borders Clos de la Roche. Léon Amiot, whose family has farmed in Morey-Saint-Denis since 1702, farms it with the same care as the Grand Cru across the boundary.
Morey-Saint-Denis
Clos de la Roche vineyard sign between Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin
Morey-Saint-Denis is Burgundy’s overlooked village. It sits between Gevrey-Chambertin to the north and Chambolle-Musigny to the south, and rarely gets the attention its five Grand Crus deserve: Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Clos de Tart, Clos des Lambrays, and a share of Bonnes-Mares, all within one small village.
Domaine Amiot et Fils has been in Morey-Saint-Denis since 1702. The Grand Cru Clos de la Roche, their flagship, comes from vines planted between 1947 and 1962 and is aged 16 to 18 months in oak. Their Premier Cru Les Millandes is also from the village.
Mark Haisma also farms here. His Premier Cru Les Chaffots is a single parcel in the southern part of the village, close to the Chambolle-Musigny border.
Chambolle-Musigny
Chambolle-Musigny vineyards looking toward the village
Where Gevrey leans toward structure and power, Chambolle leans toward elegance, a reflection of its pale limestone soils. The two Grand Crus, Musigny and Bonnes-Mares, sit at opposite ends of the appellation and show the village’s range: Musigny the most refined, Bonnes-Mares more structured.
Mark Haisma’s village Chambolle-Musigny comes from two parcels, one adjacent to Les Amoureuses, one of the most celebrated Premier Crus in Burgundy.
Vougeot
Clos de Vougeot
Clos de Vougeot is one of the most famous vineyards in the world: a 50-hectare Grand Cru enclosed by a medieval stone wall, originally farmed by Cistercian monks from the 12th century. It is now divided among more than 80 owners, so quality varies from parcel to parcel.
Mark Haisma’s Clos de Vougeot comes from a parcel in the upper section of the enclosure, close to the wall, where the drainage is better and the soils more concentrated than near the road. It is aged 18 months in old oak.
Domaine Charlopin-Tissier also farms in the upper section, and its Clos de Vougeot is available in magnum only. Yann Charlopin ages it 18 months in barrels from the François Frères cooperage, with 75–100% new oak.
Understanding the classification
The Côte de Nuits follows the same Burgundy hierarchy as the Côte de Beaune: Bourgogne, Village, Premier Cru, Grand Cru. The difference is the concentration of Grand Crus, which is higher here than anywhere else in Burgundy. A few specifics:
Marsannay has no Premier Cru or Grand Cru designations at present. All its wines are village level, though that may change if the reclassification effort succeeds.
Côtes de Nuits-Villages covers the northern and southern ends of the Côte de Nuits. Charlopin-Tissier’s is from Brochon, directly north of Gevrey-Chambertin.
Bourgogne wines can still be site-specific. The Charlopin-Tissier ‘Montre Cul’ is a Bourgogne Rouge from a single lieu-dit.
The winemakers
Mark Haisma: Australian-born, trained at Yarra Yering in Victoria, and based in Gevrey-Chambertin since 2007. Named one of Tim Atkin’s Top 25 Burgundy winemakers to watch.
Domaine Amiot et Fils: the Amiot family has been in Morey-Saint-Denis since 1702. The domaine is the Guide Hachette des Vins’ 2026 Vigneron de l’Année for Burgundy.
Domaine Charlopin-Tissier: Yann Charlopin and Justine Tissier combined two family holdings in 2013. Vineyards across the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. Yann trained alongside Jean-Marie Fourrier.
Questions about the Côte de Nuits
Where does the Côte de Nuits start and end?
It runs roughly 20 kilometres, from Marsannay just south of Dijon to Nuits-Saint-Georges and the villages just beyond it.
Is the Côte de Nuits all red wine?
Almost. It is planted almost entirely to Pinot Noir. The exceptions are Musigny Blanc, from Chambolle-Musigny, and the white and rosé wines of Marsannay. For white Burgundy, see our Côte de Beaune guide.
Which Grand Crus are in the Côte de Nuits?
More than anywhere else in Burgundy, including Chambertin, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Bonnes-Mares, Échezeaux, and Romanée-Conti.
What is the difference between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny?
Gevrey-Chambertin sits on iron-rich limestone and leans toward structure and power. Chambolle-Musigny has lighter, more fragile soils and leans toward elegance.
Which Côte de Nuits wine should I try first?
Start with Charlopin-Tissier’s Bourgogne Rouge ‘Montre Cul’ or a Marsannay, then compare Mark Haisma’s Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny.
