Hospices de Nuits (Emmanuel Rouget)
Summary
The Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges, a centuries-old charitable institution with 12.5 hectares in Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Emmanuel Rouget, who continues his uncle Henri Jayer's legacy across several Côte de Nuits appellations, both focus primarily on Pinot Noir from Burgundy's limestone-clay soils. Both producers maintain traditional Burgundian practices—including hand harvesting, careful sorting, and extended oak aging—while embracing thoughtful modernization that preserves terroir expression through minimal intervention.
Heritage & Leadership
The Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges was established in 1270, founded as a charitable hospital by Guillaume de Vergy, Lord of Nuits. This historic institution has maintained its dual mission of healthcare and viticulture for over seven centuries. Unlike its more widely known counterpart in Beaune, the Hospices de Nuits has remained municipally managed throughout its history. The institution currently operates under the direction of Jean-Marc Moron as technical director of the wine operations, overseeing the domaine's vineyards and wine production.
Emmanuel Rouget, operating separately from the Hospices, represents a different chapter in Burgundian winemaking history. Rouget began his winemaking career working alongside his uncle, Henri Jayer, in the 1970s. Following Jayer's retirement in the early 1990s, Rouget assumed responsibility for many of the vineyards previously managed by his uncle. Today, Emmanuel works with his sons Guillaume and Nicolas, who have gradually taken on increasing responsibilities in the family business based in Flagey-Echézeaux.
Vineyards & Wines
The Hospices de Nuits owns approximately 12.5 hectares of vineyards, all located within the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. This vineyard portfolio includes premier cru parcels such as Les Saint-Georges, Les Didiers, and Les Vignerondes. The vineyards are planted predominantly with Pinot Noir, with a small portion dedicated to Chardonnay. These holdings are divided into specific cuvées that are sold at the annual charity auction held each March.
Emmanuel Rouget's domaine manages vineyards across several appellations in the Côte de Nuits. His holdings include parcels in Echézeaux and Vosne-Romanée, including the premier cru sites of Vosne-Romanée Les Beaumonts and Cros Parantoux. The domaine focuses exclusively on Pinot Noir production from these sites, with vines averaging 30-60 years of age. The vineyards are planted on the classic limestone-clay soils of the region, with variations in composition contributing to the distinctive character of each wine.
Philosophy & Practice
The Hospices de Nuits follows traditional Burgundian winemaking practices while incorporating modern techniques where beneficial. Harvest is conducted by hand, with careful sorting both in the vineyard and at the winery. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled vats, followed by aging in French oak barrels, with new oak typically comprising 30-50% depending on the cuvée. The wines are bottled after approximately 18 months of barrel aging.
Emmanuel Rouget maintains many of the meticulous practices established by Henri Jayer. This includes detailed vineyard management with emphasis on achieving optimal ripeness, careful destemming of grapes, pre-fermentation cold maceration, and judicious use of new oak during aging. Rouget practices extended barrel aging, typically 18-24 months, before bottling without filtration. The domaine focuses on expressing terroir through minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the characteristics of each vineyard site to be clearly articulated in the finished wines. While Rouget employs sustainable practices in vineyard management, the domaine does not hold organic or biodynamic certification.