Nathalie Richez Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge La Justice 2023

A pure, transparent red Burgundy, the Nathalie Richez Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge "La Justice" 2023 comes from a tiny parcel near the border of Saint-Aubin and La Rochepot, made by one of the region's most quietly compelling young talents.

Nathalie Richez doesn't come from a winemaking family, but her love of Burgundy runs deep, and it shows in an approach the trade describes as egoless, unassuming, and strikingly transparent. She launched her eponymous domaine in 2011 and now works alongside her daughters, producing small quantities of white and red wine out of her home in the village of Chagny — vinifying beneath the old stone shed in her backyard rather than in any grand, purpose-built cellar. Her 0.40 hectares in La Justice are split across two parcels, one 60 years old and the other 25, and her hands-off, precise winemaking lets each site speak for itself.

The 2023 shows a bright, pale ruby color and an aromatic profile built around clean, ripe red cherry fruit. On the palate, that same vivid cherry character carries through, framed by soft, polite tannins and a lively, silky texture. Raised entirely in used 228-liter barrels, the wine shows no trace of oak vanilla, letting its balance and fruit purity take center stage on a bright, tart finish.

It's an undervalued gem of a Burgundy — pure, unadorned, and a compelling reason to seek out this small, promising domaine before word gets out further.