Côte de Nuits 2021: New Releases

This is undoubtedly one of the greatest premier cru sites in the Côte de Nuits. Clos Frantin are the proud owners of 1.75 hectares.

A village Vosne from one of the commune's historic names, who benefit from brilliantly placed vines. They have vines in Les Damaudes and Maizières, at either side of the village, bringing very different characters to the wines.

Lots of mineral depth here, and there's also plenty of energy on the palate. There's a lovely density here - with notes of wild flowers and also darker frtui.

The 2021 Monts Luisants, from one of Morey's most celebrated vineyards, is lovely in 2021. Lots of whole bunch spice, and there's a fragrance and purity here, too. Very nicely balanced.

This remarkable village lieu-dit sits directly above Bonnes Mares, Clos de Tart, and Clos des Lambrays. The Clair parcel is situated just above their Bonnes Mares parcel. It’s hard to believe this isn’t a premier cru. Up here there is virtually no top soil at all, and the vines plunge straight into the limestone bedrock. Arthur uses up to 30% whole bunch on the young vine parcel, which he vinifies separately from the older vines, blending later to build layers of complexity. It has a fresh red fruit aroma - cherries and wild strawberries - with tightly-coiled tannins giving the palate a nervous yet bright energy. Superb.

This clos is a monopole of the domaine found right at the centre point of Gevrey, between the grand cru slope and the Combe de Lavaux. The wine has an incredible concentration expressed with exquisite finesse. This is absolutely delicious, with red-fruit power, fine tannins and mineral length. Clos du Fonteny is always one of Bruno’s personal favourites.

Pierre has just 0.4 hectares in Charmes-Chambertin, which is divided into five separate parcels, two of which are on the border with Griotte-Chambertin, on more stony soils.

The fresh, vibrant palate is vivid and tensile, offering slightly chalky tannin and crunchy red fruit. This has a beautiful, elegant structure and wonderful density and saline drive on the finish. Excellent.

This comes from 65 year old vines, which makes for a wine of spicy, seductive, dark-fruited purity. Archetypal Chambolle-Musigny.

Les Fuées enjoys a wonderful position: just alongside Bonnes Mares, and as a result is one of the most sought-out crus in the village. Pretty and layered.

This monopole grand cru in the heart of Vosne-Romanée between two Domaine de la Romanée-Conti monopoles - La Tâche and La Romanée-Conti - is the flagship wine of the estate. It is like a basket full of freshly picked strawberries and raspberries. The palate, although it displays this gorgeous summer fruit element, is almost so much more complex than that, with silky, refined tannins, subtle smoky notes and savoury acidity. Extraordinary length, extraordinary wine.

This might just be the best village Vosne out there. It comes from four parcels which host a variety of vine ages. The relatively high proportion of younger vines gives this cuvée an vibrant, juicy structure. It is refined, mineral and beautiful with supple, fine tannins, and fresh high-acid fruit.

Mugneret-Gibourg has just one parcel within this sizable grand cru, planted in 1954, just next to the château. It is one of the finest examples of the vineyard, with depth, elegance, structure, and complexity, dark cherry fruit and a full-bodied, mineral length. Effortlessly superb.

This well-positioned vineyard on the Vosne side of the appellation sits on the slope, enjoying plenty of sunshine and the cooling ventilation of a constant breeze, keeping the fruit in excellent health during the growing season. Impressive fruit on show, brimming with fresh plum and damson, the tannins are fine-grained, mineral and chalky. Lots of elegant depth here and a wonderfully long finish.

This wonderful parcel sits just beneath the cluster of houses in the village centre. It makes such a floral, elegant and long wine in 2021, with a brilliantly deep fruit core. Perfumed and spiced, with great mineral tension.

This comes from an astonishing 18 different parcels, many in the vineyards facing Chambolle-Musigny.

Clos de Vougeot might be a grand cru, but in the wrong hands it can be ungainly and heavy. In the hands of the Grivots, however, it is a finely woven, detailed and poised wine with beautiful power and length. Rose petal and violets perfume the nose, with a little tobacco spice and pepper on the palate spicing up the ripe red berry fruit. Sweetly tender, but also so powerful, with nicely detailed tannins. This has fantastic ageing potential.

Aux Lavières is tucked just beneath 1er Cru Aux Murgers, on the Vosne side of the appellation, and it’s quite a step up on your regular village cuvée. This 2021 shows elegance, energy and density. Excellent grip and saline length. This is delicious now, yet is sure to age wonderfully.

This is a brilliant 2021: pure, concentrated, and energetic. It has a beautiful nose of fresh rose petal, cherry and plum combining. An ample body, and smooth, supple tannins with just a little grip at the back. The depth of fruit and length of finish are equally impressive. Bravo.

This wine has earned a strong following for its superb quality, and will no doubt sell out quickly on release. It is a cuvee that Etienne is particularly proud of in 2021. It is sophisticated yet broody, with a lavish and sumptuous freshness, and a complex profile of rose petal, dried herbs, dark berries and smoke. The tannins are so silky and seductive. It finishes with a gorgeous length, lingering with aromatic beauty long after you have sipped it.

This single vineyard Côtes de Nuits-Village wine is a firm Lay & Wheeler favourite. In 2021 it has an elegant frame, built around aromatic, ripe red cherry fruit. The palate has a straight and incisive mineral line, giving it wonderful freshness. This outplays many wines from grander communes every year, and 2021 is no exception.

Alix’s Echézeaux is a blend of three plots across the grand cru. It shows an incredible level of concentration, elegance and finesse in 2021, with kirsch, rose petal, spice, and black tea all vying for attention. The supple, fine-grained tannins give it magnificent structure.

This vineyard is a monopole of the estate which has been in the hands of the family since 1860. Where the Brûlées is firm and structured, Clos de Réas is more lithe, mineral and supple, with a sophisticated flavour palette of blood oranges, crushed raspberries, ripe damson and fresh rosemary. It is both luxurious and refined.

This premier cru neighbours Richebourg, and has a lot of limestone on the soil. This gives the wine pretty red fruit definition and drive on the palate. As ever, it is quite structured wine, with good stature promising ageing potential. But there is also Vosne’s classic velvet, silky power in the fruit, matched with some toasty oak.