Côte de Nuits 2021: New Releases

This is the only parcel the domaine bottles separately from the other Gevrey village parcels. That is thanks to its quite incredible situation, and the consistency of quality it delivers every year. It is sandwiched just between grands crus Charmes-Chambertin and Griotte-Chambertin. It’s almost unbelievable it’s only a village lieu-dit. The Rossignol-Trapet vines lie right alongside the Joseph Roty Charmes Vieilles Vignes parcel, but the soil is more like Griotte-Chambertin just to the north. There is just a hint of black fruit depth combined with the red fruit freshness, something reminiscent of cassis and cherries. The tannins are well-formed, offering structure and frame with a slight broodiness, but not imposing too heavily on the fruit. Very fine.

This is one of the most complete Gevrey village wines you will find: multiple parcels scattered around the village which are vinified in three parts. One part comes from the light stony soil at the bottom of the valley, giving a cool elegance; the second is a cluster of parcels in the middle of the village on clay soil, giving body and structure; the third is a group of parcels below the grands crus, giving a complexity and finesse. The vines are all aged between 45 and 85 years, and the concentration and complexity this wine delivers for the price is hard to beat. It is a joyful wine in 2021, with great fresh, wild berry energy and a long dry, mineral finish.

Rossignol-Trapet owns two very fine parcels of this formidable grand cru. The vines were mostly planted in the 1950s, with a small section of young vines planted in 2000, and another small section planted way back in 1919. This is such an attractive wine in 2021, with magnificent structural texture, and a sophisticated length. It builds and builds, and will age with the best. Perfectly judged.

The clay soils of this well-placed parcel produce a wine of depth and power. Like the Etelois, there is some black fruit mingled in with the red, and an expressive, aromatic depth. The tannins provide a little more grip than the village wines, and will demand a few more years in the cellar. There is a spicy accent to the wine, and a long, balanced, saline finish.

Cool air comes down the valley between Morey-St-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin, meaning Latricières is a little slower to mature than the other Gevrey grands crus. In 2021 it is a highlight in the Rossignol-Trapet cellar. There is such tender, sweet red strawberry and plum fruit on the nose, with a delicate enticing palate. This is fresh and mineral, with a vibrant acidity and energy about it. Graceful tannins make it delicious to drink now, but with some age this will take on even more depth and weight.

This was the first parcel they converted to biodynamics in 1997, so this lovely vineyard in Gevrey-Chambertin has now benefitted from over two decades of low-intervention farming. In 2021, it has wonderful, briar fruit and floral aromatics and it’s energetic and light on its feet, with a wonderfully long, mineral finish.

This is one of the handful of Côte de Beaune parcels the domaine inherited from their Rossignol roots in Volnay. Their vines sit at the very top of the cru, in the vineyard’s sweet spot between Aux Cras and Les Grèves. The red stony soil and sunny exposition here make a silky, sweet-scented style of wine. It’s a wine that is vibrant and inviting in its youth, with crunchy tannins, freshness, and a detailed, smooth length.