David Duband has been at the helm of his family estate since 1991. Under his father, Pierre, the modest family estate in the Côte de Nuits originally sold their fruit to the cooperative in Beaune. Over the years, David has expanded the estate’s holdings to include some serious Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels and has converted all of his vineyards as well as his long-term leases to organic and biodynamic viticulture under the strict Ecocert. David obtained an Enology degree in Beaune before joining his father at the family domaine. Once he took the reins, David began crafting and bottling all of their wines in-house, and in doing so found his signature style that has firmly ensconced the Duband name amongst some of the greatest in Burgundy. Striving to craft wines with, “finesse and power,” that are, “delicate and intense,” David Duband utilizes a rare combination of tradition and modern innovation that delivers wines that are pure, clean and unlike anything else in the region.

Nuits-Saint-Georges is the southernmost commune of the Côte des Nuits and is bordered to the north by Vosne-Romanée. One of the oldest villages in Burgundy, Nuits-Saint-Georges boasts a history that begins with the Romans and winds through tales of Cistercian monks. Once known simply as Nuits before the famous vineyard of Saint Georges was attached to the village in 1892, Louis XIV once drank this wine daily for his digestive health. Pinot Noir from this incredibly historic appellation ranges in style from rustic and tannic to the soft, velvet-like nectar of Vosne. This offer hails from Les Procès Premier Cru, which is only 1.34 hectares and delivers serious 1er Cru terroir that is enthusiastically lauded when crafted by Duband’s astute attention in the cellar. At 250-270 meters in elevation with gravel-laden limestone soil, these 30-year-old vines, at the southern entrance to the appellation, offer one of the most serious expressions of Nuits-Saint-Georges on the market.

The 2007 Les Procès displays a ruby red core with light garnet and orange reflections on the meniscus. The perfumed nose reveals aromas of freshly picked wild strawberry, slightly dried cherry, goji berry, and hibiscus tea over wet rose petals, wild herbs, damp forest and a touch of dried mushroom. The slightly cooler vintage revealed a more high-toned expression that has achieved a truly divine balance almost a decade later. The medium-bodied palate has a beautiful sweetness of fruit and a round elegance that is perfectly matched by the silky mouthfeel, stunning freshness, and alluring nuance. I must warn you, this wine is so delightful to experience, it will disappear almost as soon as it reaches your glass. Ready to cherish now, this mature red Burgundy will also reveal even more complexity and pleasure with another 10-15 years of patience.