Cote de Nuits-Villages Excellence with Antoine Lienhardt and Jean-Marc Millot
Cote de Nuits-Villages Excellence with Antoine Lienhardt and Jean-Marc Millot
Amongst the villages in the Cote d’Or, one that is often overlooked is the Cote de Nuits-Villages. The vineyards that lie at the north (Brochon and Fixin bordering Gevrey-Chambertin) and southern points of the Cote de Nuits (Comblanchien, Corgolin, and Premeux bordering Nuits-Saint-Georges). The winemakers highlighted today, Antoine Lienhard and Alix Millot of Domaine Jean-Marc Millot are making their wines from the Cote de Nuits-Villages with the same care, attention, and respect as they would/do with Grand Cru vineyards. This mentality has caused the wines available today to showcase some incredible value. We are very excited to showcase these two fantastic Domaines that have made wines of incredible integrity, concentration, and flavor.
Antoine Lienhardt has had a green thumb since he was a child begging his grandmother to let him take over a section of her garden to plant his own plants and vegetables. Fast forward to 2011 when he took over the 4.2 hectares of family vines from Comblanchien that his grandfather planted in the 1960’s. Before inheriting vines Antoine spent four years working at Domaine Amiot-Servelle (a Chambers St. Favorite and leader in biodynamic farming in Chambolle) as well as in Chablis and a short stint in South Africa. Now over a decade of making his own wines, Antoine has become the first in his family to make wines (previously the vines were leased out). Today he works alongside his sister Héloise who handles all administrative duties in the domaine. Antoine began conversion to organic farming in 2016 and is now farming biodynamically, he says, “Our approach to winemaking is to intervene as little as possible with the vines natural growth, and practice original craft traditions.” In addition to precise farming, Antoine talks of how he treats his vineyards and makes wines as if they were Grand Cru sites, finding the terroirs of Comblanchien to be completely undervalued. Antoine’s goal is to make wines that maintain energy and vibrancy, that can age. He advises drinkers to decant his wines when young but believes there’s a beautiful evolution for 20 years!
Jean-Marc Millot had been growing grapes and estate bottling since 1992, boasting an incredible lineup of vineyards, including three Grand Crus, vines within Nuits-St-Georges, Vosne-Romanee and more. In 2000 he stopped the use of all pesticides. With some of the best real estate in the world, the wines followed suit. In 2014, Jean-Marc’s daughter, Alix began working alongside him in the vineyards and cellar. In 2016, she made her first vintage on her own and just two years later, Alix made the change to farm organically (without certification) and the wines have been improving ever since. Not all vignerons are lucky enough to have Grand Cru vineyards, but those that do, and treat their less proclaimed vineyards with the same farming, care, and respect as Premier and Grand Cru vineyards always provide a treat (and value) when it comes to their "entry level" wines. Aside from percentages of new oak and a few changes vineyard to vineyard with destemming, the humble Bourgogne Rouge and Cote de Nuits-Villages wines are handled the same way as her Echezeaux! Alix’s wines are friendly, approachable, and can easily be enjoyed now.
-Hanna Krilov
Wines will be arriving later this week and will be available for pick-up beginning Friday, 2/21
All wines discount 10% on a case or mixed case purchase.
*** Change the "View as" style below to read MORE INFO on the wines, and click on a wine for the full tasting note! ***
Lienhardt, Antoine 2023 Cote de Nuits-Villages 'Emphase'
Emphase is a special wine that is essentially a calling card for the best plots in and around Comblanchien. From several plots, with stones and pebbles, clay, and limestone. Harvest is determined by consistent tasting in the vineyards for optimum...
$79.99
Lienhardt, Antoine 2023 Cote de Nuits-Villages 'Les Essards'
Essards is a single parcel within Comblanchien, with rocky soils and vines averaging 55-65 years old. Harvest is determined by consistent tasting in the vineyards for optimum ripeness. Grapes are 100% destemmed with closed tank fermentation and then aged for...
$69.99
Lienhardt, Antoine 2022 Bourgogne Aligoté
Aligoté from rocky soils of clay and limestone, aged in old barrels and concrete eggs. The vines are on average 40 years old. This is very serious Aligoté, saline and delicately aromatic, with fine texture. An example of the next...
$46.99
Antoine Lienhardt 2023 Gamayoptere Coteaux Bourguignons
Organically farmed Gamay from vineyards in Fixin, grown by Pierrot. Vinified whol cluster with 7 days of semi-carbonic maceration in stainless steel. Aged 7 months in 86% stainless steel tank, 7% amphora, and 7% fiberglass egg. “The name "Gamayoptere" combines...
$37.99
Lienhardt, Antoine 2023 Grand Crew Rouge VdF
An homage to the Lienhardt harvest team, this is a delicious light red, made from organic grapes grown in the Gard (Rhone Valley). Maceration is partial carbonic for about a week, with a gentle press afterwards. Aging is for 8...
$36.99
Millot, Jean-Marc 2022 Bourgogne Rouge
Sourced from the village of Comblanchien from across the road from Clos de la Marechale from 45+ year old vines. 100% de-stemmed and fermented with indigenous yeast before being aged in 2-3 year old barrels. The wine is fresh, elegant...
$48.99
Millot, Jean-Marc 2022 Cote de Nuits-Villages Vieilles Vignes
Coming from the village of Premeaux just south of Clos de L’Arlot from three parcles, Vignottes, Vaucrains, and Essards. The vines here are 80+ years old. The grapes are fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in 10% new oak barrels....
$68.99
Millot, Jean-Marc 2022 Cote de Nuits-Villages 'Version Nord'
50+ year old vines from 3 lieux-dit in the village of Brochon just north of Gevrey-Chambertin, Preau, Creole, and Vignois. Grapes are de-stemmed before being fermented with indigenous yeast and aged in 15% new oak barrels.
$63.99
Millot, Jean-Marc 2022 Cote de Nuits-Villages 'Aux Faulques'
50+ year old vines from Comblanchien just south of Nuits St. Georges. The vineyard itself is just 400 meters from Clos de L’Arlot. Grapes are de-stemmed before being fermented with indigenous yeast. They are barrel aged in 20% new oak....
$74.99
Millot, Jean-Marc 2022 Cote de Nuits-Villages 'Le Vaucrain'
60+ year old vines from one of the top sites in Comblanchien. The vineyard sits high on the slope above Clos de Marechale. The wine is 100% whole cluster with indigenous yeast fermentation. This very small 0.11 hectare plot produces...
$94.99
