There are always new estates turning up on the Burgundy heaven … some are reviving old estates … others are completely new … And then there are the rare hidden estates producing some surprisingly fine wines … in the conceiled parts of Burgundy.
This week I was having lunch in Nuits-Saint-Georges and by coincidence I met an old friend from Hong Kong, who he was just going to a tasting at an estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges.
An estate I had never heard about before, yet I had already visited the estate buildings, as a part of the estate is rented out to other Domaines for extra cellar space.
Maison Alain Brune
Maison Alain Brune is an atypical estate making quite few wines, from bought grapes from a small group of the same suppliers every year. They have access to some very good grapes from selected plots … hence they are able to make some excellent wines year after year.
- Bourgogne Blanc
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- Gevrey Chambertin
- Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millandes
- Clos de Vougeot
The wines are all well made, with moderate extraction with a moderate use of oak. The style is modern old school, meaning on the fruity side, but with the fruit a bit on the darker side … with a good freshness and energy. These are enjoyable wines, fresh and legr … that aspire to a vin d`emotion status.
To call them flawless would be an exaggeration… they are lacking a bit of complexity here and there … and they have no major flaws or defaults … they just drink well and are enjoyable. Compared to other wines from NSG, this is definitely in the better end.
Amazing one can find estates like this in the very core of Burgundy … almost unknown even in Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Alain Brune … the winemaker
Alain Brune is a cheerful and intelligent winemaker in his mid-50s. He has a background in both Jura and Burgundy and has since 1997 been running the Alain Brune estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges.
In Jura he worked at the legend Pierre Overnoy, and back in Burgundy, he worked in Morey-Saint-Denis at Guy Coquard.
So a wide background knowledge …
The notes from June 12, 2025
Bourgogne Blanc 2022
The Bourgogne Blanc is a lovely wine from the vineyards below Meursault. Quite rich … lovely complexity with a nice freshness and balance … phenolics very good a lovely lunch wine that could go at even top restaurants.
(Drink from 2025) – Very Good – (87-88p) – 
Bourgogne Rouge 2022
Fine and slightly old school … quite elegant, but it’s not really knocking your socs off. A good entry wine for the portfolio.
(Drink from 2025) – Good – (86-87p)
Nuits-Saint-Georges 2023
From the excellent village terroir Les Argillats. Alain Brune doesn’t like to use the lieu-dits on the label … but if you have such a fine village terroir like Les Argillats, then I feel the extra info is mandatory … sort of! Nice tannins and a lovely acidity … intense and quite delicate.
(Drink from 2031) – Very Good – (89p) –
Gevrey Chambertin 2023
The Gevrey is from three different vineyards. Made from very old wines … silky textures … delicate … perhaps the yield could ideally be lower to ensure a better focus. It is nevertheless a lovely village.
(Drink from 2028) – Very Good – (88-89p) – 
Morey-Saint-Denis Millandes 2023
The Millandes is perfectly ripe with a lovely, generous, sweet hint on the palate. Tremendous balance and a lovely fruit … has sufficient yields to have a lovely appeal … the best cuvée in the portfolio
(Drink from 2032) – Fine – (92-93p) – 
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- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion