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.

There are few premiers crus prized as highly as Les Amoureuses. Many put it on a par with grands crus, and as the quintessential expression of Chambolle-Musigny. And in a great vintage for the commune, this comes up trumps.

Clos Frantin owns 0.63 hectares of the Clos, running from the bottom to the top on the south side of the vineyard. This is yet another example where this vineyard shines - sometimes dismissed in the company of other grands crus.

Domaine du Clos Frantin owns a parcel in the Champs Traversins part of this vineyard, high on the hill, which is noted for its fine expression.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

This is one of the parcels that Cyprien and his team farm organically all year round and harvest themselves, under the négociant label. It is an excellent village lieu-dit that a number of growers choose to bottle separately, sitting at the southern end of the village. There is a fine depth to the fruit here, which is elegant and finessed. Beautifully balanced. This is delicious now but should age well.

This vineyard is at the north end of the village, on the border with grand cru, Mazoyères-Chambertin. The soils are high in limestone, and produce a wine that is rich in dark wild berries, clove spice and mineral notes. The fruit is particularly vivid in 2021, with great energy on the palate.

This comes from 4 different parcels the domaine owns around the village. It is delicate yet elegant, redcurrant fruit all over, with a lovely savoury note. It has some fine, soft tannins and fresh acidity. 2021 is a vintage where Chambolle excelled and this finessed example from Cyprien is a case in point.

Yet again, this is a stand-out in the Arlaud cellar. In 2021, different plots were harvested at different times, a small amount of whole bunch was used along with 20% new oak. And everything is perfectly in place, the structure is just so to let the fruit sing. Mineral, flowing, and long.

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.

A winner every year. Pure and elegant with delicious, ripe, red 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.

One of the most sought-after wines every year, this always delivers huge complexity from the start. It is so deep and concentrated, and with such a sustained finish you’ll be thinking about it long after you’ve had a sip.

One of the most sought-after wines every year, this always delivers huge complexity from the start. It is so deep and concentrated, and with such a sustained finish you’ll be thinking about it long after you’ve had a sip.

This can often have the broadest shoulders of the Rousseau grands crus, and is certainly one that requires some serious ageing. Magnificent.

This can often have the broadest shoulders of the Rousseau grands crus, and is certainly one that requires some serious ageing. Magnificent.

Rousseau’s Gevrey might be their least grand cuvée, but it remains nevertheless one of the most sought after wines, and a window onto their supreme style which can be drunk a little earlier than their premiers and grands crus.

Voluminous and with profound length, this is an exquisite wine from the Rousseau cellar, with layers that build up in a subtle, but melodic crescendo.

The Ruchottes always abounds with small red berry fruit, making it a lively and vibrant grand cru. It nevertheless has the gravitas of its grand cru status, and will evolved for many years in bottle.

Only five domaines own Clos St Jacques, and Rousseau’s wine is frequently the pinnacle. This shows the complexity, suave power, and finesse of a grand cru. Such incredible freshness.

Only five domaines own Clos St Jacques, and Rousseau’s wine is frequently the pinnacle. This shows the complexity, suave power, and finesse of a grand cru. Such incredible freshness.

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 floral on the nose and totally delicious.

With Richebourg and Cros Parantoux as neighbours, you can expect great things from this vineyard. Amélie has five separate plots across half a hectare. The site is so steep and inaccessible that no tractors can reach it, and all work is done by horse or hand. The 2021 has elegant, inviting dark cherry aromas with the palate showing such finessed and exceptionally concentrated fruit. It is so persistent and direct on the finish, with Vosne’s powerful, velvet-like tannins.

This steep-sloped vineyard is one of Gevrey’s most highly-regarded premiers crus. It makes a wine of structure and depth, with broad, sumptuous tannins and intense berry fruit. Sadly, this plot that Amélie had been renting for the last few vintages has now been sold, and from 2022 will no longer be part of the range.

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.

If Les Crais is her father’s cuvée, then this is Amélie’s. The wine used to go into their village blend, but Amélie has been bottling it separately since 2013. The vines are now 70 years old, and she likes to use a little whole bunch in the blend. Only 3 barrels were made in 2021. It is a wine of handsome proportions, with tender, yet concentrated, red and even some black fruit, savoury spiced tannins, and a long, fine, saline finish.

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.

In Aux Allots we find the domaine’s oldest vines, though how old precisely is unknown. The family bought the vineyard which sits on the Vosne-Romaéee side of the village in 1969. It had been planted long before then, although the exact date has been lost to history. This wine has an enthralling depth of berry fruit, with a minty lift on the nose, and just a hint of licorice adding a further dimension. Textural and complex, this is an outstanding Nuits-St-Georges.

This is a flagship wine of the domaine, and at two hectares represents around a third of production. It’s an incredibly steep site just above Les Vaucrains which had been abandoned since the phylloxera crisis until Bertrand terraced and planted it in 2001. There is slightly darker, fuller fruit than that found in the 2019, but with the brightness of acidity it feels balanced and very complete, unforced and charming.

This parcel in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, right next to Axelle’s cellar, sits at 450 metres altitude. The isolated parcel is naturally low yielding anyway, and, she says, naturally pruned by the local deer. As a result, it's an Aligoté with the yield of a grand cru, Axelle laments in jest. The vines are around 50 years old and around 10% of the vineyard is an old Burgundian variety, Melon de Bourgogne, more commonly found in Muscadet these days. The wine is energetic and delicious, brimming with apples and apricots, and a lacy, fine texture.

Fragile old vines planted in 1964 produce a wine of surprising structure from this site. The concentration of fruit, the frame of tannins, and the long drive on the back-palate are perhaps more in line with the traditional image of Nuits-St-Georges than Axelle’s Vallerots cuvées. This quintessential Nuits cuvée has superb length, with some welcome Nuits-St-Georges structure giving it power and presence.

Whilst most of the vineyard is terrassed (and goes into the blend bearing that name), a small half hectare section is not, having been planted in 1984. It might be difficult to farm, and very hard work to harvest, but it’s well worth it for the wine it produces. It is rich in berry fruit, with a wonderful structure that sees a seamless marriage between fruit, body, tannin and acidity. There is so much purity and energy here. A crystalline snapshot of the more elegant side of Nuits.

What a Bourgogne Rouge this is. It comes from a parcel in Nuits-St-Georges, at the south end of the commune, not far from Les St Georges. The soils here are stony and poor, not as deep as some Bourgogne vineyards can be, and make a superbly balanced wine, sweetly fruited and with a wonderful fluidity.

A rare Vosne-Romanée from Axelle whose vineyards mostly lie in Nuits-St-Georges. As gorgeous as it is scarce, with deep velvety fruit and a long, refined finish.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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!

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.

Combettes sits on the border of Morey and Gevrey, surrounded on all sides by grands crus. There are many theories as to why this isn’t a grand cru itself, most of which centre on the political angle (a popular theory is although in Gevrey, it is shared amongst many growers from Morey, and the powers that be in Gevrey enjoyed snubbing it for grand cru status).

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

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 arguably the best placed village parcel in the whole of Gevrey, sandwiched between Griotte and Charmes-Chambertin.

Pierre owns the last parcel of Latricières before Chambertin begins, and while attention is usually focused on his Clos de Bèze, this is the wine for those in the know.

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.

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.

It’s a wonderful vineyard perched in the middle of the Combe de Lavaux - the cooler south-east facing hillside in Gevrey’s northern sector, right next to one of the finest of all premiers crus, Clos St Jacques.

It’s a wonderful vineyard perched in the middle of the Combe de Lavaux - the cooler south-east facing hillside in Gevrey’s northern sector, right next to one of the finest of all premiers crus, Clos St Jacques.

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.

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.

Faiveley are the largest landowner in this fêted corner of Chambertin, with three parcels to their name. It is one of the consistently most complex wines in their range, and offers staggering ageing potential. In 2021, aromas of sweet baking spice and ripe, red fruit combine leading to gorgeously, supple tannins, a wondrous line of acidity and a long, fine, saline finish on the palate. Utterly charming.

Les Cazetiers lies right alongside Clos Saint-Jacques on the Combe de Lavaux. Its easterly exposure combined with cool, elevated position make for outstanding freshness in the wines. This is serious and broody in 2021. 30% new oak supports the savoury, very pure fruit, and should see this through many years in the cellar. Expertly balanced.

This wine from the Côte Chalonnaise is one of the bargains of Burgundy. It performs every year, and offers excellent value. The 2021 is so fragrant with attractive wild strawberry and rose petal aromas. On the palate, this is expressive, plum and berry-fruited, with ripe, silky tannins and a long, saline finish.

Latricières always feels a little cooler than Charmes Chambertin, its neighbouring grand cru. A gentle but cool breeze draws down the valley, keeping freshness and minerality in the grapes. The 2021 has a marked cool crushed raspberry scent, with pretty rose petal notes. It has a beautiful mineral quality running through the densely packed and pure red fruit, giving this wine a wonderful weight in the mid-palate.

This vineyard has been a family monopole since 1874. It is the domaine's flagship wine and one of just two Burgundian Grands Crus to bear the name of its owner (Romanée-Conti being the other). This is so elegant and refined in 2021, with sweet, smoky spice and rose petal around concentrated red fruits, with a long, mineral, saline length.

Mazis is the most northern of the Gevrey grands crus, and is renowned for making some of the most seductive wines amongst them. The Faiveley plot benefits from some very old vines, some of which were planted in 1930. In 2021, this is sleek and seductive with aromas of rose petal and sweet plum. There is a rich, detailed, exotic opulence to the palate and the longest of finishes.

This special cuvée comes from the oldest vines in Faiveley’s Clos de Bèze holding, and was first produced in 2011. The name is an homage to the family’s connection with the artist, Rodin, and the cuvée is only ever produced in tiny quantities. Powerful, deep, and seductive. This will reward the patient.

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 ‘other’ white grape from Burgundy is enjoying a well-deserved moment: the wines are fresh, vibrant, wonderful for early drinking and offer unparalleled value.This comes from a 50 year old parcel and is 100% barrel fermented. The Felettig example is everything we’re looking for: salty, fresh, and moreish with a nice grip and bite.

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.

Mineral and stony on the nose, this starts off with tension on the palate but then explodes with fresh, red fruit concentration. Long and fine on the finish.

This tiny premier cru is set in a dip that was once a quarry (as the name alludes to). Full of red cherries, with an elegant texture and silky length. Structured and complex.

As the name suggests, this is situated in the heart of Chambolle-Musigny. At 0.5 hectares, it is the Felettigs’ largest single parcel. There’s lots of limestone in the soil here, and the 2021 is spicy and elegant, with juicy cherry fruit, and floral detail.

Sumptous and expressive, the 2021 Beaune 1er Cru Les Champs-Pimont delivers generous aromas of raspberries, smoky notes, spices and plums. Elegant and charming, its refined tannins are entirely cloaked in succulent fruit.

The domaine has vines in two plots on either side of Nuits: Les Chariots in the south and Aux Lavières in the north. There is a Chambolle signature woven through the Nuits fruit here; the wine has a nice firm, elegant structure yet remains silky and finessed overall. Great!

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 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.

One of three grand cru sites in the Lamarche cellar. This is often the most understated. It has a hedgerow wild berry scent in 2021, with a fine elegant texture on the palate. Complex with wonderful balance. This should age gracefully in bottle.

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.

Nicole has three parcels within this grand cru, one in the northwest corner (where everyone wants to be) tucked up next to Musigny. The three add complexity and layers to the finished wine. This is a highly complete and elegant wine in 2021. Voluptuous, red fruit-packed, with density and length, and silky tannins. The concentration of fruit is off the charts! Superb.

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 is the vineyard that lies right next to the family home and winery, extending out like a garden from the cellar doors. Marie-Christine and Marie-Andrée’s father had rented it to a neighbour, but the well-maintained vineyard came back under the domaine’s control again from 2017. It is a pretty, floral elegant village wine with such fine concentration and a sultry, wild fruit character running through it. Impressive volume and mineral tension.

Ruchottes is a fairly small grand cru, just 3.3 hectares in total. The Mugneret-Gibourg parcel is in Ruchottes du Bas, and in 2021 has made a beautiful wine, with dark cherry density, a wonderful freshness to the fruit and a sumptuous, saline finish.

This comes from just one parcel in Vosne-Romanée, planted in 1955. The wines are yielding such low volumes that the domaine is in the process of replanting, uprooting one quarter of the parcel at a time. The tiny yield in 2021, like the two previous vintages before it, has resulted in a staggeringly concentrated Bourgogne Rouge. It has a sweet, plummy density and elegant, structured fruit, with intense persistence for a Bourgogne. It will easily age for a decade, which is not something you can say of every Bourgogne.

This comes from just one parcel in Vosne-Romanée, planted in 1955. The wines are yielding such low volumes that the domaine is in the process of replanting, uprooting one quarter of the parcel at a time. The tiny yield in 2021, like the two previous vintages before it, has resulted in a staggeringly concentrated Bourgogne Rouge. It has a sweet, plummy density and elegant, structured fruit, with intense persistence for a Bourgogne. It will easily age for a decade, which is not something you can say of every Bourgogne.

65% of the fruit comes from Rouges du Bas, the rest from the Quartier de Nuits section of the Echézeaux grand cru. So elegant and balanced. Effortless concentration, silky tannins and a long saline, persistent finish. Gorgeous.

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.

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

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

The family’s garden extends out into the Chaumes vineyard, in the centre of the village. Their terrace has a great view of it, which is where Maxime likes to open an older vintage or two when you visit. It might not be the most soughtafter Vosne Premier Cru, but in Maxime's hands it's remarkable.