2021 Antoine Lienhardt Côtes de Nuits Villages 'Emphase'

At harvest, the Grand Cru-level care is evident. The grapes are, of course, harvested by hand and sorted in the vineyard. Great attention is paid to harvesting physiologically ripe fruit but also maintains an energy and vibrancy that carries into the final wine. Once the grapes arrive at the cellar, Antoine feels that most of the potential has been established. So, during the fermentation, macerations are gentle and without exaggerated extraction, lasting for about 15 days. All wines see 100% whole cluster and are vinified without sulfur. Over the past five vintages, Antoine has come to believe that with clean fruit and attention to detail, he can forgo the use of sulfur in vinification, which he believes achieves the purest expression of his terroirs. Barrel aging lasts for 8-12 months at which point the wines are bottled to capture the purity and exuberance of the fruit.  The use of new oak has decreased dramatically since Antoine's first vintage, and today no wine sees more than 10% new oak.

The endlessly delicious Aligoté and Bourgogne Blanc are electric, mineral-driven and almost tonic in nature. The three Côte de Nuits Villages drink well beyond their humble appellations. "Les Plantes aux Bois" tends to be a bit more red-fruited and floral, while "Les Essards" is a bit darker with mineral undertones. "Aux Vignottes," by contrast, has a bit more fruit, but is also endowed with a structure and minerality that is somewhat reminiscent of it's more noble northerly neighbor. In the 2017 vintage, we saw the addition of "Emphase", a harmonious blend of six parcels surrounding the village of Comblanchien, as well as the amphora aged "Gamay du Pierrot", a fruity and fresh Gamay from the village of northern village of Fixin.