Vintage Character The 2022 growing season was a warm counterpoint to 2021. Budburst came later than in several preceding years and lessened exposure to April frost, while four summer heatwaves and widespread dryness tested the vines. Brief rainfall helped them keep ripening, and Burgundy's wine board reports concentration without loss of fresh fruit. The old Pinot Noir parcel at Les Noeuds lies on the Pommard plain, where deep clay and a limestone seam give the cuvée its supple, fruit-centred identity. Against the heat of 2022 that structure gives a red with generous dark fruit and enough freshness to stop ripeness turning to softness alone.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing The estate's account of this Bourgogne Pinot Noir stresses depth and a palette of black fruits unusual for its modest appellation. In 2022 black plum and ripe cherry lead, with a brighter edge beneath the darker core and a touch of clove. Silky, enveloping tannin makes the dry palate feel complete without the stern frame of a Premier Cru, at 13% alcohol. Serve it with roast pork and fennel, grilled duck or a mushroom and lentil ragout. The savoury dishes temper the fruit's warmth, while the wine's natural acidity keeps the pairing lively. Serve slightly below room temperature.
Winery Background Les Noeuds was planted in the 1960s and is a single vineyard, not an anonymous regional blend. Génot-Boulanger, founded in Meursault in 1974, treats such regional labels with the same cellar principles as its village and cru wines. Organic certification has covered its vineyards since 2018. After manual picking, the Pinot Noir is fully destemmed and fermented with native yeasts. Extraction is gentle, relying mainly on pumping over, and about a year in oak and additional time in steel follow. The unfiltered bottling keeps the distinctive old-vine dark fruit and supple texture at the centre.