2023 Antoine Lienhardt Cote de Nuits-Villages Les Essards Burgundy, France

BIODYNAMIC: Practicing

VINEYARD: Vineyard planted in the late 1960s in the village of Comblanchien near the border with Corgoloin.

SOIL:Clay-centric parcel with very little topsoil before hitting Comblanchien limestone.

VITICULTURE: Organically farmed, incorporating some biodynamic principles, soils worked with a horse and plow. Heavy green harvesting to limit yields and encourage good concentration. All grapes are picked by hand at harvest.

VINIFICATION: Harvested at optimum ripeness (always determined by consistent tasting in the vineyards), 100% destemmed, closed tank fermentation with cuvaison of 10 to 15 days. No sulfur added in vinification.

AGING: One year of ageing in oak barrels, 10% of which are new. Just a touch of sultur added at the bottling.

NOTES:
Old vine parcel planted by Antoine’s father. Marked by lovely fruit concentration and beautiful balance. Perhaps a bit quieter and more nuanced than the more explosive Plantes Aux Bois.