Côte de Nuits 2021: New Releases

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.

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.

Always a favourite, this Vosne is silky and suave, with lots of spice on the palate, and also notes of violets and plenty of mineral lift. A lovely expression that shows off this village beautifully.

A wine we've backed for years now, from a single vineyard in the Hautes Cotes. This shows good ripeness but yet still excellent intensity of fruit. There's a nice lift on the finish: a brilliant example from the Hautes-Cotes.

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 is made from 40 year old vines from Morey, Chambolle and Vougeot. OKA is the name of one of the Arlaud draught horses. This cuvée is matured for 18 months with only 25% new oak. Intense notes of red fruits, raspberries. Delicate and silky on the palate, with a long, fine finish.

Frankly, this is utterly gorgeous, a wine of such charm and weight, a nice little touch of acidity. This has major staying power, what’s not to like! Wonderful length and class here.

This comes from the very highest point of Mazoyères-Chambertin, which can also be labelled as Charmes-Chambertin. The vines here age between 30 and 65 years old. The nose is open and alluring with sweet spice notes. It has a pleasing volume and weight on the palate, subtle, and long-lasting flavour.

This wine has been bottled as a single vineyard cuvée by Amélie’s father for many years, and remains the flagship wine of the estate. This vineyard is scarcely over a hectare and sits right in the heart of the appellation, just below the village itself. The alluvial soils, particularly at the bottom of the parcel, are well-draining. The vines are aged between 15 and 70 years, and the 2021 shows a bright and fluid texture, with wonderful drive and the energy of crunchy, red fruit and saline freshness.

Fixin doesn’t have any grand crus, but in Amélie’s eyes, this is a pretty close estimation. It has very shallow soils, and the vines, now aged 30-80 years old, dig deep. Only 5 barrels were made in 2021. The nose is open, aromatic and expressive bringing aromas of violet and dark cherry. On the palate, beautifully concentrated forest fruits interplay with soft, silky tannins. Elegant and fine, this is an incredibly successful 2021.

Bruno Clair has an impressive 10 hectares in his home village of Marsannay. He bottles five separate cuvées, including this wonderful iteration from a single parcel at the southern end of the commune, on the slope that rises up behind the village. Its name (meaning “fat heads”) refers not to anybody involved in its cultivation, but rather the large rocks that show through the surface of the clay soil. It is typically the most structured and powerful of the Clair Marsannays, and in 2021 it is muscular and tightly coiled, reminiscent of Gevrey-Chambertin. It has fantastic fruit concentration, and with the structure and freshness to age wonderfully. This is quintessential Marsannay, and quintessential Clair.

These are the oldest vines of the domaine, and were planted in 1902. It’s an east-facing vineyard that catches the sun all day in its amphitheatre-like form. This precious site was Bruno’s father’s favourite, and is now his son’s, Arthur’s, favourite too. This is beautifully aromatic, with cranberries, cinnamon spice, and floral lift on the nose, and some pure and elegant fruit on the palate. Complex, harmonious and saline. A beautiful wine and a highlight in 2021.

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.

Bruno Clair is one of only five producers of this revered premier cru, that many regard as equal to the Gevrey grands crus. The Clairs refer to it as ‘the Prince of Gevrey’. It is steep by Burgundian standards, with clay-rich soil. This wine shows so much depth and suave elegance on the palate. Its cool, controlled nose suggests the moderating influence from the valley breeze. Such luxuriously, silky tannins. Profoundly refined and elegant.

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.

Bruno Clair’s is a Bonnes Mares of distinction: it is the only part to fall within Morey-Saint-Denis (the rest falls within Chambolle-Musigny’s borders). It also happens to be one of the grand cru’s consistently finest examples. The 2021 shows an irresistible concentration of red fruits. The tannins are supple and rounded. There is an unbelievable saline length here. This should enjoy an exciting evolution in bottle!

Clos de Bèze is a slightly steeper and warmer site than Chambertin, and the potential heights of complexity and concentration it can produce are remarkable. Most of the vines were planted in 1912, with the rest in the 1970s, which are affectionately still referred to as the young plants. The old vines produce a wine that is perfumed on the nose and gourmand on the palate. It has an almost endless, saline finish, with beautiful supple tannins.

A true Morey grower, it's no surprise that the example here is a real benchmark.

One of Gervey’s brilliant grands crus. It is often one that opens up fairly early on. The beautiful Dujac style here means it should enjoy a very long drinking window.

Malconsorts is considered by many as equal in quality, and certainly as in-demand, as most grands crus, and you’ll be hard pushed to find a finer example than Dujac’s.

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.

This is fast becoming one of Burgundy’s most sought-after wines. The vineyard was planted in 1920, and you can feel the power of the old vines in the glass.

Duroché owns a sizable 1.2 hectare parcel of this premier cru, and it is arguably the cuvée that best defines the estate. Lavaut balances a freshness, due to its position at the base of the Combe, with an opulence of fruit from the vineyard’s south facing site, and this is a benchmark example.

A classic example from this cooler region in the hills above the Ladoix-Serrigny in the Côte de Beaune. It is peachy and smooth, quite grapey in style, with lovely roundness and a silky texture.

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 is one of the most exciting Hautes-Côtes de Nuits out there. It comes from a parcel in Concoeur-et-Courboin, on the hills just above Vosne. It has crunchy red fruit, and light and fragrant body, with fine but peppery tannins giving it agile length. Lovely energy and vibrancy.

This is one of the greatest sites in Burgundy, and often gives grands crus a run for their money. It has intense aromatics, and a mineral length. Very serious and complex. Great energy, balance - this has serious potential.

Les Suchots is one of Vosne’s most substantial premiers crus, famous for producing particularly long-lived wines. This shows warm, rich and seductive Pinot fruit - so pure, red fruited and concentrated. There is tannic structure here that will ensure this will age gracefully. Bravo to Nicole for an outstandingly elegant wine.

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 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.

A negociant wine, this has a lovely tannic structure, alongside the generosity of the vintage.

A Nuits that feels so much more Vosne in style. There's the generosity of the vintage, but also so much liveliness and vibrancy. Utterly beguiling.

So much more complex, long, and silky than a normal village wine, this shows Maxime's mastery of Pinot Noir, and his home village.

This comes from a single parcel just across the road from Chambolle-Musigny in Gilly-lès-Cîteaux, called Les Bons Bâtons. It is so red-fruited, with a pretty, fragrant length, lacy tannins and a salty bite. This feels more like a Chambolle than a Bourgogne. Fantastic ageing potential, if you can keep it that long!

You won’t find much better than this at village level. This is a wine of terrific complexity and nuance, with much of the texture and nuance you can find in her premiers crus, just with a slightly more forward and open, juicy fruit, and lighter tannins. It comes from nine plots across the village, and shows such a wonderful energy in 2021.

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.

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

A truly exceptional expression of Romanee-St-Vivant, that demonstrates why this vineyard, and this address, are both at Burgundy's pinnacle.

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.

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.

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 blend of twelve different parcels across the village, resulting in a wonderfully complete and complex village wine. It has all the requisite fruit and attractive pinot aromas in place for a good Vosne, and such silky tannins, marking it out as one of the best this year.

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 large seven hectare vineyard in the hills above Nuits-St-Georges has wonderful limestone soils, quite similar to those found on the hill of Corton, though with a much fresher climate, thanks to its elevation. The vines were planted in the 1970s and 1980s, and at full maturity are producing great concentration, and some interesting and complex layers in the wine. It is expressively concentrated, with linear acidity and some power behind the tannin to sustain a long, mineral finish.

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.

The Nuits Vieilles Vignes has temporarily lost its Aux Barrières component, replaced this year by the very well-situated Les Longecourts, which is just below Les St-Georges. A heady nose of griotte cherry, with excellent concentration and a deft balance.The wine feels so beautifully smooth, with a lovely deep core of sweet fruit. Classic Burgundy through and through.

This small monopole vineyard sits opposite the cellar, and it’s where the heart of the domaine lies. It’s amazing, but undeniable, that in a line up that contains some of Chambolle and Vosne’s finest sites, this was the highlight of the cellar. It is so complete and composed, with a sensationally long finish. Don’t miss this.

There can’t be many village parcels with a better position than this. Indeed, the bottom half of the vineyard is premier cru. The top half runs above Les Fuées and meets with Bonnes-Mares at its northern edge. This wine is full of red plum, damson and wild raspberry with a lovely pink peppercorn lift on the nose. 50% whole bunch is expertly judged. The palate is perfectly balanced, with focussed acidity balanced by a pure and concentrated fruit core. This is classical Pinot Noir at its best.

This parcel sits in the mid-slope of the hill of Corton, and is one of its finest vineyards, noted for its elegance and finesse. This has intense floral and spicy notes as the new oak wraps around the wonderful fruit. Wonderfully complex and balanced.

This cuvee comes from 2 parcels in Vosne, half from Les Barreaux and the other half from Aux Communes. 50% new oak is used and the fruit is 100% destemmed. The nose gives off alluring toasty and silky dark cherry notes. On the palate this is elegant, expertly balanced with a long, fine finish. Delicious.

The 2021 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru has a detailed, elegant bouquet of expressive wild strawberry, dark cherry and subtle rose petal aromas, Vosne-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, silky elegant tannin, rounded in the mouth, layers of lightly spiced dark cherry fruit merging with orange peel toward the harmonious and persistent finish. A very finely crafted Clos de Vougeot from Méo-Camuzet.

Nuits Boudots is the most northerly appellation of Nuits-St-Georges and neighbours on Vosne Malconsorts. Half of the vines in this parcel were planted in the early 1950's and the other half in the mid-1960's. In 2021, Boudots wafts from the glass with a classy bouquet of cassis, plums, cinnamon and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is deep and layered, with velvety tannins, a deep core of sapid fruit and lovely structural tension, concluding with a long and youthfully firm finish.

Until the 2019 vintage this had been a blend of domaine and purchased fruit, and so was bottled under the négociant label, Méo-Camuzet Frères et Soeurs. From 2020 onwards it comes exclusively from domaine fruit and no new oak is used. It is refined, elegant, and red fruit scented, with great balance and energy, lovely acidity and a pure, fine length.

This is the pinnacle of the Ponsot cellar: their most famous and emblematic cuvée, and the one most demanding of time in the cellar. It comes from two parcels: the first is from the Monts Luisants part of the vineyard, which is home to both the oldest (some are over 80 years old) and youngest vines in the blend. The tannins of Monts Luisants are structural and firm, and will gain in tenderness with age. The rest comes from the original Clos de la Roche parcel in the heart of the hillside, which adds expressive fruit to the blend. Less dense on the palate, but with a lithe and silky fruit core, it brings a perfect balance to the finished wine. In all, the cuvée draws from 3.4 hectares, and is vinified in 5 separate tanks. They continue through their élévage as distinct parts, only blended towards the end before bottling.

This comes from the premier cru part of the Monts Luisants parcel. The domaine chooses not to use that name on the label to avoid confusion with their unusual and lauded Aligoté from there. The vines sit just above Clos de la Roche.

This is the pinnacle of the Ponsot cellar: their most famous and emblematic cuvée, and the one most demanding of time in the cellar. It comes from two parcels: the first is from the Monts Luisants part of the vineyard, which is home to both the oldest (some are over 80 years old) and youngest vines in the blend. The tannins of Monts Luisants are structural and firm, and will gain in tenderness with age. The rest comes from the original Clos de la Roche parcel in the heart of the hillside, which adds expressive fruit to the blend. Less dense on the palate, but with a lithe and silky fruit core, it brings a perfect balance to the finished wine. In all, the cuvée draws from 3.4 hectares, and is vinified in 5 separate tanks. They continue through their élévage as distinct parts, only blended towards the end before bottling.

This is one of the best terroirs among Morey’s premiers crus, just below Clos de la Roche. Slightly smoky, with Morey wildness, this is once again one of the most impressive premiers crus we have.

Stéphane’s parcel of 65-year-old vines lie right in the heart of the old Clos, the original part of the appellation. It's everything great red Burgundy should be: understated, complex, and utterly beguiling.

This is the third vintage of this wine in 2021. The vineyards Sébastien took on are now farmed along organic lines. This is a blend of several parcels with vines aged between 10 and 70 years. It is floral, plummy, bright, mineral and charming.

This is the third vintage of this wine in 2021. The 2021 feels fresher and crunchier than the Chaumes with a zingy line of acidity running through the palate, finessed, precise red berry fruit and a long mineral finish.

A new addition to the Cathiard cellar in 2021. This comes from 3 different parcels. It has plenty of rich fruit concentration laced with smoky, toasty notes.

A fresh, bright, and textured Aligoté from the Hautes-Côtes with a salty bite to the finish. Waxy lemon and pear aromas on the nose. This is the only white in the Cathiard range, and recent purchases mean it will grow in volume in the future.

This comes from a parcel between Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée, and contains 40% Gamay and 60% Pinot Noir. It is full of sweet spice and berry fruits with a lovely long finish

One of three new additions to the Cathiard cellar in 2019, along with two Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. This comes from a single parcel in Gevrey, Champ Franc. Spicy, floral, saline and sophisticated in 2021.

Delicate red fruit on the nose, elegant, fine-boned tanninas and some toasty warmth from a little new oak.

This comes from five parcels in four different sites, and combined they make a spicy, fragrant, and incredibly long Vosne. In 2021, it abounds with red berries and the scent of peonies. There is great freshness and elegant power here, which will ensure this develops spectacularly over the years to come.

This is the flagship wine of the estate, the one on which its considerable reputation has been built. Rich, ripe and spicy on the nose this has the depth, density and structure to evolve magnificently with time. Phenomenally complex, finessed and compelling.

The Reignots vineyard sits on the steep incline of the hill as it rises up just above La Romanée. It has very thin, poor topsoil, and the 2021 is concentrated, with plummy, cherry fruit refreshed by chalky tannins and a touch of spice on the finish.

A well-placed village parcel sits right in the middle of the appellation beneath premier cru Les Charmes and produces a complex, seductive, refined, and layered Chambolle, with particularly smooth and silky tannins. Such a long and saline finish, this is delicious!

Suchots of one of the largest and most famous premiers crus in Vosne-Romanée, just below Les Beaux-Monts and Aux Brûlées, with Echezeaux to its north, and Romanée-Saint-Vivant to its south. It makes a structured and spicy wine, with powerful length and wonderful balance.

Most of the fruit comes from the Côte de Nuits, with the majority from around Nuits itself, with the balance from the Côte de Beaune. The fruit is the star of the show here - strawberries, raspberries, red plum. It is a fresh and crunchy style of bourgogne, with enough bite to give it a vibrant length. It should drink well from a young age. And it’s an absolute bargain.

This is a balanced and refined Savigny, with a long, plummy, spicy finish. It has 20% whole bunch, helping draw out the tannins in a more gentle expression, which works well here. Perfumed with plum, red cherry and rose petal, with a delicious freshness. Fantastic.

This Mazis is sumptuously perfumed with exotic red and black fruit. The palate is effortlessly refined, and has class and finesse in spades. Superbly structured with so much depth and complexity. It is drawn from three parcels, one of which is over 75 years old. The fruit from these very old vines goes in as whole bunch (accounting for around 10%), whilst the rest is destemmed. It is again the high point of the Tawse cellar in 2021, and may well be amongst the wines of the vintage.

This cuvée is the main reason we started buying the wines from Marchand-Tawse. It is a winner every year. 30% whole bunch gives it a translucent purity, and the wine displays an elegant and delicious ripe plum core. Great energy and vivacity. The vineyard sits just below Clos St Denis, in the heart of the village, and offers up a deep and rich expression of the village. What a pity it is made in such tiny quantities.

Tuvilains is a lovely vineyard on the Pommard side of the town. Scented with rhubarb and raspberries, with a lot of structure on the palate. There is 20% whole bunch here, and some support from new oak. In 2021, it is spicy, red fruited and light bodied, with a refreshing crunchiness to the tannins.

This is drawn from a couple of parcels on the south side of the commune towards Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin. In 2021, it has a ripe fruit profile, with red plum and wild strawberry, and some spicy, supple tannins giving it an elegant and fine edge. It has body and impact and is deliciously long with a saline finish.

This remote east-facing vineyard sits at an elevation of 400m. Mark explained that on a crisp summer morning you can see all the way to Mont Blanc from here. Its position means, although bathed in morning sun, it does not have much hot afternoon sun, and fruit ripens slowly. It was harvested last in 2021, with 30% whole bunch fruit used. The result is a delicate, refined plummy nose with an attractive floral note. This is classic Pinot and the floral, sweet spice and damson notes running through the palate make this deliciously approachable now. There is enough fruit concentration and length to ensure this will only improve with time.

With only 2 barrels made in 2021, this is a floral, more opulent expression of Frémiets. It’s quite a warm site, and needs to be picked early to capture freshness, which fortunately, they have, and its excellent acidity serves it well, meaning this should have a long drinking window.

The Mazoyères is made with 70% whole bunch and shows Mark’s confidence with the style working well. It is refined and aromatic with a juicy, sweet spice nose. The energy on the palate is dazzling and there is great balance between purity and depth of the red fruit on the palate, an uplifting freshness and the longest of spicy finishes. This is a very fine, jolly wine.

Floral with a great energy on the nose. The energy follows through to the palate, with a lively core of acidity running through this wine. There is great depth to the fruit and a crunchy grip to the tannins which should see this wine age with grace.

Lavaux St Jacques is a lovely vineyard on the Combe de Lavaux which enjoys the cooling influence of the cold air drawn down the valley. Beautifully pure, fresh fruit on the nose. Powerful structure yet elegant with ripe, silky tannins. Long and finessed on the finish. Delicious.

These vines were planted in 1927, and lie just under Echézeaux and next to Clos de Vougeot and a stone’s throw from Suchots, which all in all is pretty unbelievable positioning for a village parcel. In 2021, 100% whole bunch was used, giving a delicious lift to the fruit. There is great depth and layering to the smoky, plum and damson fruit, topped off with a wonderful blackcurrant drive. The tannins are present but not astringent, giving it a muscular dimension. Very well made indeed.

Serious and brooding. Lovely density, and nice mineral texture. Has those grippy Clos tannins, but they’re refined and well rendered. This is elegant and finessed, but doesn’t lose its Clos Vougeot Character. Very long and fine.

This was a high point to finish on with Nicolas. It was elegant, smoky, savoury, and spicy with such intense density, power and concentration in the fruit. It is full-bodied with a great acidity and voluminous tannins. A cut-above.

Clos de l'Arlot is the historic flagship monopole vineyard of the domaine, and Lay & Wheeler is delighted to have an allocation for the first time in 2021. It is efined and delicate, with classic and pure Pinot red fruit, supple tannins, and a long elegant finish.

Like the Suchots, this was another clever purchase that the domaine made in the 1990s, and marks a high point in the cellar. There is a serious amount of wine here, ably supported by some generous oak that will integrate within a few years. This is a grand cru to be reckoned with. Such density! It has a luxuriously amplified volume and concentration. So effortless and elegant - beautiful

A gorgeous garnet colour. Delicate aromas of soft summer fruit, strawberry, cherry and a subtle floral note combine. The palate is full of finesse and balance with fine-grained tannins leading to a long, persistent finish.

This comes from 0.7 hectares of premiers crus across the village: La Riotte, Les Sorbès, and Le Village. The new style of vinification has drawn out the finest qualities of the fruit here: tight red berries, but with a fine silky texture to the tannins, and an elegant thread of acidity.