Hudelot-Noellat

Richebourg Grand Cru

Richebourg Grand Cru, Vosne-Romanee

2009

Vintage

Varietal

Pinot Noir

ABV

Peak 2012-2033

Where it is, June 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2012-2033).

In 2026, the Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg Grand Cru 2009 is deep within its peak drinking window, which opened in 2012 and extends through 2033. The wine has completed its transformation from tight, tannic youth into a richly textured maturity that showcases everything the Richebourg appellation can achieve. The 2009 vintage brought unusual warmth and opulence to the Cote de Nuits, generating a level of concentration that has fully resolved into seamless integration. The tannins are supple and fine-grained rather than gripping. Fruit has evolved from primary dark cherry and plum into a complex interplay of dried cherry, iron-rich earth, forest floor truffle, and gentle spice. The wine holds a balance that speaks directly to Richebourg's unique terroir: iron-rich clay over Comblanchien limestone, a combination that produces wines of power alongside genuine elegance. With seven full years remaining in its peak window, the 2026 drinking proposition is outstanding. Open with confidence, knowing the peak still has considerable depth ahead.

Related vintages

The ‘09 Richebourg Grand Cru.

The 2009 Richebourg Grand Cru from Hudelot-Noellat reaches full maturity in 2026, a powerful expression of Vosne-Romanee grand cru complexity after 17 years of seamless evolution.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

Deep garnet in color with broad mahogany edges speaking to a wine well past its tannic youth. The nose opens with dark cherry compote, black plum, aged leather, and rich Vosne earth, threaded through with violet, dried rose petal, and an iron-inflected mineral current. Fifteen-plus years of cellar evolution have woven the tannins into a seamless, silken structure. On the palate, the opulence of the 2009 vintage arrives as a wave of dark fruit richness, then pulls back to reveal spiced cherry, forest floor truffle, and a subtle whisper of cedar from well-integrated oak. The finish is exceptionally long, unfolding across the palate for a full minute. This is Richebourg in its most generous, fleshy expression, the 2009 vintage amplifying the appellation's inherent power without sacrificing the precision that distinguishes a great Vosne-Romanee from a merely impressive one. A wine to linger over in 2026, it remains in peak form for another seven years of remarkable drinking.

The 2009 vintage

The 2009 Burgundy vintage was shaped by a warm and generous growing season that contrasted with the leaner years on either side. After balanced conditions through spring, July and August brought sustained warmth and sunshine, allowing Pinot Noir vines across the Cote de Nuits to achieve full physiological ripeness. June rains provided the vine hydration that prevented the dry summer from causing vine stress. Wine Spectator awarded 2009 Cote de Nuits reds a 95 Classic rating, noting the wines were charming and fluid with ripe, pure fruit. For Richebourg specifically, the added warmth of 2009 produced extraordinary depth while the appellation's iron-rich clay soils retained the mineral thread that defines great Vosne-Romanee. The harvest arrived in mid-September under favorable skies, delivering wines of unusual opulence and length. The 2009 sits between the austerity of 2008 and the precision of 2010, its plush, generous character making it among the most immediately pleasurable of the decade while still delivering genuine complexity after 17 years in the cellar.

About Hudelot-Noellat

Hudelot-Noellat is a small domaine based in Chambolle-Musigny with vineyard holdings across some of Burgundy's most hallowed grand cru sites in Vosne-Romanee and the Cote de Nuits. Since 2011, Charles van Canneyt, grandson-in-law of the late Alain Hudelot-Noellat, has guided production with a philosophy of minimal intervention and precise attention to individual vineyard expression. The Richebourg holding is a 0.35-hectare parcel of very old vines planted at high density and harvested by hand with meticulous selection. Van Canneyt employs whole-cluster fermentation for a portion of the fruit, extended maceration to build structure without over-extraction, and maturation in a thoughtful mix of new and older Burgundian barrels. The domaine style balances the inherent power of grand cru terroir against the purity of old-vine fruit, producing wines built for the long cellar while delivering complexity at every stage of development.

From the cellar: pair with

Roasted Duck Breast with Cherry Reduction

The 2009 Richebourg's dark cherry concentration and earthy iron depth find a natural mirror in roasted duck, with the wine's generous tannins cutting cleanly through the fat.

Aged Comte or Gruyere with Truffle

The wine's truffle and forest floor complexity deepens alongside aged alpine cheese, with the 2009's rounded acidity providing balance and length without tartness.

Braised Lamb Shoulder with Herbes de Provence

Richebourg's iron-rich minerality and layered spice harmonize with slow-braised lamb, where the wine's exceptional length matches the richness of the meat note for note.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 60-64F (16-18C)
Decanting: Decant 45-60 minutes before serving in 2026. The wine is fully mature but benefits from aeration to open its layered tertiary complexity. Avoid extended decanting beyond two hours, which risks losing the delicate aromatics built over 17 years of bottle evolution.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Burgundy guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

Is the 2009 Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg at peak in 2026?

Yes, fully. The peak window opened in 2012 and runs through 2033. The 2009 vintage warmth accelerated early development, and the wine arrived at maturity slightly ahead of a typical Richebourg arc. In 2026 it shows seamless tannin integration, rich secondary fruit, and full complexity. There is no benefit to holding beyond 2033; the current moment is among the finest in the lifetime of this bottle.

How long should I decant this wine?

Decant the 2009 Richebourg for 45 to 60 minutes before serving in 2026. Despite the wine's maturity, it retains sufficient structure to open beneficially with air. Decanting allows the nose to move from earthy reduction to layers of dark cherry, truffle, and violet within the first 30 minutes. Avoid decanting beyond two hours, which risks stripping the delicate aromatics built over 17 years in the cellar.

What is Richebourg Grand Cru and why is it significant?

Richebourg is a 7.9-hectare grand cru vineyard in Vosne-Romanee, Burgundy, considered one of the greatest red wine sites on earth. The combination of Comblanchien limestone subsoil, iron-rich clay topsoil, and an east-facing slope produces wines of remarkable power and complexity. Richebourg is divided among very few producers, making each individual domaine expression highly prized by collectors and critics worldwide.

How does the 2009 compare to other great Richebourg vintages?

The 2009 is among the most opulent Richebourg vintages, delivering richer, fleshier concentration compared to the elegant austerity of 2002 or the structured precision of 2005. Wine Spectator rated 2009 Cote de Nuits reds at 95 Classic, noting their ripe, pure fruit character. The 2009 trades mineral tension for generous fruit depth, making it one of the most immediately pleasurable Richebourg expressions of the decade. Visit /wines/region/burgundy for vintage comparisons.

Where can I explore other Burgundy grand crus?

Visit the /wines/region/burgundy hub for a full view of Burgundy appellations and aging ranges. For Pinot Noir cellaring guidance, visit /wines/varietal/pinot-noir. Related pages include the Musigny Grand Cru from Joseph Drouhin at /wines/joseph-drouhin/musigny-grand-cru, Bonnes-Mares from Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue at /wines/domaine-comte-georges-de-vogue/bonnes-mares-grand-cru, and Ruchottes-Chambertin from Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg at /wines/domaine-georges-mugneret-gibourg/ruchottes-chambertin-grand-cru.