In Burgundy, the summer of 2020 was hot and dry, but the real heat didn't set in until August. Since winter rains had previously ensured sufficient groundwater levels, the grapevines were able to cope successfully with the situation. The grapes ripened in remarkably pristine condition, and the harvest began earlier than ever before, a new experience for many producers. For Domaine Lécheneaut, an organic farm in Côte de Nuits, this combination allowed them to create a Pinot Noir, a wine with a dense texture and pronounced acidity that doesn't feel heavy.
The vineyards in the northern part of this appellation are characterized by a more delicate flavor compared to the powerful southern vineyards. The 2020 vintage has retained this delicacy while adding a sense of body. The wine was aged in French oak barrels. It has a robust structure and initially gives the impression of austerity, but its true merits are revealed not upon early opening, but after prolonged aging in the cellar.
Jancis Robinson (16.5)
Cask sample. Dark fruit. Plush, ripe, quite generous yet balanced with a fine line of acidity and integrated oak. Fine tannin notes. Very well balanced. Andy Howard MW
Burghound (93)
Firm reduction renders the nose impossible to reasonably assess. More interesting are the refined, in fact almost delicate, middle weight flavors that possess a wonderfully refined mouthfeel before culminating in a delicious, balanced and youthfully austere finale. This is lovely though it too will need to develop more depth with time in bottle.
Jasper Morris (94)
Inky depths of black purple. No sign that this is upper slope. A little barrel toast on the nose while the dark fruit remains somewhat brooding. Much cleaner on the palate though, with a firmness of structure, some impressively managed tannins, and clear-cut acidity. The impression of the fruit at the finish is more red than black. A wine with excellent potential. Tasted Nov 2021.
