Côte de Nuits 2021: New Releases

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.

In spite of appearances, Grands-Echézeaux is much smaller than Echézeaux, and its wines much rarer. It can often, in the right hands, hold the edge in terms of quality. In 2021, this is elegant and refined, with both red and black cherry aromas on the nose. A fine backbone of acidity is expertly balanced with supple, chalky tannins, beautiful fruit concentration and a mineral, fine and long, long finish.

Clos de Vougeot is a huge vineyard, so it matters where you’re placed. Jean-Marc Millot’s plot is in Grand Maupertui, which borders Grands-Echézeaux, often considered the finest part of the vineyard. This is an elegant, expertly balanced wine in 2021, with pomegranate, raspberry, floral notes and salty minerality. Fine and distinguished.

Les Suchots is a decent sized premier cru, and shared amongst many of the finest growers of its village. Yet it’s often Alix’s Suchots that steal the show, and 2021 is just such an example. Supple, pretty tannins, knit together in a complex format, and layered over with concentrated red plum and pomegranate fruit. Such balance and finesse, and a long, evolving finish. This is very, very good indeed.

This comes from two sites in Vosne, one bordering Suchots (Hautes Maizières) and the other Clos Vougeot (Les Violettes). It has a fresh, vibrant drive, with a smooth suppleness to the cherry fruit palate. Voluminous, mineral and sophisticated, and every inch of its prestigious communes.

This comes from two sites in Vosne, one bordering Suchots (Hautes Maizières) and the other Clos Vougeot (Les Violettes). It has a fresh, vibrant drive, with a smooth suppleness to the cherry fruit palate. Voluminous, mineral and sophisticated, and every inch of its prestigious communes.

A classical village wine from this on-the-rise domaine.

A classical village wine from this on-the-rise domaine.