Incredible Wines and Biodiversity from Domaine Armand Heitz
Incredible Wines and Biodiversity from Domaine Armand Heitz
The discussion of farming is a common one here at Chambers Street Wines, and is truly one we take pride in. Right at the time when it seems like so many are turning towards organic and biodynamic practices, there comes along a vigneron who is doing even more to ensure healthy grapes as well as healthier land then what was passed onto them. One such grower would be Armand Heitz.
The history of the Domaine goes back to 1857 but it isn’t until more recent years that acclaim has reached this family. Armand Heitz’s mother Brigitte Lochardet leased her share of vineyards to Maison Joseph Drouhin for twenty-five years. During this period, the Drouhin family farmed organically and in turn had very high-quality grapes off this land. The contract lease ended in perfect timing of Armand graduating with his oenology degree from Switzerland, returning home in 2011 to farm just one plot of land, with his family allowing him to take full control of the Domaine the following year.
Armand continued on the Drouhin’s path of farming organically and even spent time experimenting with biodynamic practices. However, after some time at the helm of this large Domaine, he switched his focus towards permaculture and agroecology. This change began in 2019 and for permaculture involves practices that mimic natural ecosystems, which in turn reduces waste and environmental impacts. While agroecology focuses on the balance between plants, animals, humans, and the environment. For Armand, this all has helped him to bring life back into the soil. He states how, "[I] realized that a wine estate, even one covered in all the labels, is neither autonomous nor sustainable. This is why I wanted to diversify my activity with livestock farming in order to move towards a more virtuous agronomic model . Reintegrating animals into the heart of a farm is essential. They consume grass or harmful insects and return as much microbiology to the soil as possible with their droppings. They recycle our waste and contribute to natural selection. A pasture without animals is a pasture doomed to disappear." This philosophy was taken even one step further in 2021, when he began cattle and sheep farming to further nourish soils and strengthen biodiversity.
One last major change since their release in 2013, is the jump from the name Domaine Heitz-Lochardet to Armand Heitz. Not much change in the true style of winemaking from one to the next but a change nonetheless. Even with the name changing, the wines have been outstanding over the last decade, with a wide range of whites and reds all across the Cote de Beaune. The white wines are generous, intense, rich but still beautifully lifted. The reds are fairly light on their feet with ripeness, depth, and great drinkability. Today we have an amazing range of white and reds wines from Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge through Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres and the Monopole Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Poutures!
-Hanna Krilov
Wines are arriving later this week and will be available for pick-up beginning Friday, 3/7
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! ***
Heitz, Armand 2022 Bourgogne Blanc
From two plots, one under Meursault and one under Pommard. Year after year this wine is bright, balanced, and incredibly food friendly. One of the best values around!
$36.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Santenay Blanc
A wine of incredible depth and complexity. This wine tends to have a flinty character from the soils. With a long finish and lifted quality.
$49.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chenevottes
Armand describes the wine as “shy in its youth but shows itself to be very generous after one or two years in bottle.” It is aged 11 months in 20-40% new oak barrels.
$149.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Meursault 'en la Barre'
Armand notes how, “this climate produces a cuvée that is faithful to the image we have of Meursault. Freshness, purity but also fatness for intensity. A lovely terroir with the signature of the estate. I took over this parcel in...
$119.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres
“If Meursault had to have a grand cru, it would undoubtedly be Les Perrières. It is a powerful, intense wine, a rich and imposing terroir. Located in the middle of the slopes like all the best crus in Burgundy, it...
$249.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Bourgogne Rouge
A 7 hectare plot from under Pommard resulting in a wine of fruit, ripeness, spice, and just a bit of structure. Armand uses 50% whole cluster and just ages the wine for 8 months in barrel. An approachable fun drinking...
$36.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Boucherottes
This parcel is just below Beaune Clos des Mouches. Armand has low yields from this 0.4 hectare plot planted in 1964. The wine is made with 100% whole cluster before being aged 14 months in 20% new oak barrels. A...
$94.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Armand’s plot of Taillpieds is 0.37 hectares planted in 1964 and 1999. The wine is made 100% whole cluster and is aged for 14 months in 20% new oak. There are beautiful notes of spice, and florals. This one will...
$134.99
Heitz, Armand 2022 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Poutures Monopole
Armand describes this wine as, “one of the most emblematic wines of the estate. I have been working this terroir since 2013, my first vintage. It is a terroir with a singular personality, totally the opposite of the cliché of...
$139.99
