Visit Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat, tasting the 2018s from cask

Visiting Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat is always a treat, and the 2018s are showing very fine promise and form here, as I expected they would.

As I have mentioned numerous times, Charles Van Canneyt has raised his game in recent years, in his calm and thorough way. I am thus happy to give these wines a cheerful shout-out, as the 2018s are very enjoyable.

The 2018 vintage at Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat

As with other producers, Charles Van Canneyt has produced rich and generous wines in 2018, but ones that are also balanced and vivid.

The Hudelot-Noellat range has vivacious freshness, and only a few wines in this splendid lineup have warm tendencies.

The balance is delightful, as the style here offers a fine expression of richer years. One gets the full benefit of a generous year without getting the “too much” feeling, or even worse, the “this is not Burgundy” feeling associated with overly hot 2018s.

The Hudelot-Noellat style accommodates the warmer climate conditions of recent years, and it expresses to advantage these richer and denser wines, while raising quality on the way. Chapeau!

With the 2018s we are taking a step up in intensity and density from the 2017s. As a vintage, 2018 resembles 2015 more than 2016, with the rich, generous, somewhat sweet fruit. Somehow the 2018s seem better balanced currently than the exuberant 2015s – but let’s wait and see before making a final judgement!

Notes from the tasting on July 5, 2019