Côte de Beaune 2021: New Releases

The domaine used to - technically - rent these vines from Jean-Marc’s mother, Lydie’s grandmother. She passed away three years ago and since then the domaine has inherited the two parcels, from which they make this explosively good wine. It has a power and depth that sets it apart from the premiers crus, with precision and length promising a superb evolution in bottle.

With seven parcels scattered across three hectares, of which five are located in Enseignères (a highly-regarded vineyard that touches the grands crus), this Puligny is one of the most complete and quintessential we know. This year it also includes the three buckets that were salvaged from La Garenne. 2021 is another benchmark vintage here, delivering both richness and freshness. It is packed with peach, white flowers and a gunflint character, and a wonderful saline thread of acidity. Great value.

This is one of the finest sites in Puligny. It has some of the poorest soil in the village, and the wines it produces often soar to another level. The vines here are 60 years old and produced just one barrel in 2021. It has candied lemon and peach on the nose with a touch of anise. The palate is so classy and well-balanced, with the 100% new oak not at all evident. Delicate and finessed, with amazing fruit concentration interwoven with fantastic, fresh acidity. So delicious, long and fine.

This comes from the Meursault side of the village, and the cru touches Meursault’s Charmes. It has concentrated peach, orange blossom and toasty notes on the nose, with fantastic structure, texture and acidity on the palate. As usual, this promises a complex development.

Their tiny parcel of the highly-regarded Combettes is situated between Les Referts and Champ Canet, right at the top of the Puligny slope. 2021 is another fantastic iteration, with its peachy, yet tender fruit laced with an attractive smoky, stony note and explosive acidity that culminates in a fantastically long finish. There is grand cru-esque complexity here.

The Boillot family have two parcels here, which together amount to just over one hectare and have an average age of 70 years old. This is scented with peachy stone fruit and pithy citrus notes, and the palate is tightly coiled with an elegant mineral intensity running though. This is Puligny at its best.