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Places compared

Côte de Nuits vs Côte de Beaune

The two halves of the Côte d’Or, and which one you actually want.

Which to choose

Choose

Côte de Nuits

You want serious red Burgundy and are prepared to pay and wait for it.

Choose

Côte de Beaune

You want white Burgundy, or you want red Burgundy at a price that still exists.

Where they differ

Written rather than computed. A place has no taste profile of its own — the wines made there do, and they vary — so averaging one into existence would produce a number for every dimension and a meaning for none.

Colour

Côte de Nuits

Almost entirely Pinot Noir. White wine here is a rarity and usually a curiosity.

Côte de Beaune

Both, and its reputation rests as much on Chardonnay as on Pinot Noir.

Red style

Côte de Nuits

Deeper, firmer and more structured, with black cherry and a savoury, gamey depth that arrives with age.

Côte de Beaune

Lighter, softer and more red-fruited, generally approachable earlier and less built to last.

Grand Crus

Côte de Nuits

Twenty-four, including Chambertin, Musigny, Richebourg and Romanée-Conti.

Côte de Beaune

Eight, of which seven are white. Corton is the only red Grand Cru in the whole southern half.

Price at village level

Côte de Nuits

High, and highest in Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin.

Côte de Beaune

More approachable for reds — Savigny, Beaune and Chassagne rouge are among the last affordable Côte d’Or wines.

What they share

Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.

One continuous limestone escarpment, one climate, and the same two grapes. The boundary between them is a change in the geology and in what was planted, not a change in kind.

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