Domaine des Lambrays : Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Domaine des Lambrays Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance displays a violet to ruby hue, revealing a preserved youthfulness with lovely purple highlights characteristic of Burgundian Pinot Noir.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet unveils beautiful complexity with notes of crisp small black fruits and red fruits. With aeration, the wine progressively reveals aromas of very ripe cherries, raspberries, and blackcurrants, accompanied by a delicate touch of violets. A fine spice reminiscent of freshly ground pepper intertwines with fruity aromas, while subtle notes of cinnamon and pomegranate add an extra dimension. The characteristic touch of citrus peel on the finish constitutes a particular signature of the terroir.

Palate

The attack is powerful and smooth. The palate is complex and well-structured, built around fine and velvety tannins. The wine's general balance relies on a chiseled and slender framework with polished tannins, creating a tactile sensation of rare delicacy. Minerality constitutes a fundamental component of the profile, a direct reflection of the terroir's clay-limestone composition. Chalky and zesty citrus notes on the finish underscore the harmonious interaction between natural acidity and mineral compounds.

Food and wine pairings

This Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" 2021 pairs perfectly with a fillet of venison or a tournedos mascotte. It also goes beautifully with an herb-crusted chicken breast, a beef fillet with red wine sauce, or a duck breast with cherry sauce. For cheese lovers, well-aged Brie and ripe Camembert create remarkable pairings.

Service and storage

The Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" 2021 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. It is advisable to open the bottle about one hour before tasting to allow for progressive aeration. This wine presents a cellaring potential until approximately 2041.

An elegant Premier Cru by Domaine des Lambrays

The estate

The Domaine des Lambrays, whose first documented mention dates back to 1365 in the Cîteaux Abbey archives, constitutes one of Burgundy's oldest properties. After fragmentation during the French Revolution, the estate was progressively reconstituted during the 19th century. In 1981, the Clos des Lambrays obtained its Grand Cru classification, becoming the thirty-third in Burgundy. Since 2014, the property has belonged to the LVMH group and today extends over approximately 15 hectares. Under the direction of Jacques Devauges since 2019, the estate obtained organic certification in 2022 and is pursuing its conversion to biodynamics. A new vat room using gravity-flow winemaking principles was inaugurated in 2022, witnessing the estate's commitment to excellence.

The vineyard

The Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" comes from young vines of the Clos des Lambrays and other selected Premier Cru plots. The vineyard is located in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, in Morey-Saint-Denis, benefiting from an exceptional topographical situation at an average altitude of 250 meters. The general exposure is oriented towards the east, allowing optimal exposure to the first rays of the sun. The clay-limestone soil, typical of the Côte de Nuits, presents a differentiation between the upper and lower parts of the vineyard. The top of the Clos offers a more marly soil favoring minerality and freshness, while the bottom mixes clay with limestone, producing greater concentration. Planting density ranges between 10,000 and 12,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard is worked partly by horse and harvesting is carried out entirely manually.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a winter frost episode of rare intensity affecting the entire French wine territory. Milder spring conditions favored flowering in late May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Meteorological instability was observed between mid-July and mid-August. Saving rains in late August allowed for optimal ripening, unveiling berries of remarkable generosity and balance.

Winemaking and aging

Harvesting for the Morey-Saint-Denis 1er cru "Les Loups" 2021 is done manually with rigorous sorting of the grapes. The new vat room inaugurated in 2022 allows for sophisticated plot-by-plot vinification thanks to 19 cylindrical wooden vats with capacities ranging between 15 and 45 hectoliters. The gravity-flow winemaking system avoids the use of pumps for transferring wines. Yields practiced at the estate are set at a rigorous level of approximately 30 hectoliters per hectare. The use of oak chips remains prohibited; only superior quality oak barrels shape the organoleptic profile of the wines. Aging takes place in oak barrels.

Grape

100% Pinot Noir