Armand Heitz : Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Murgers des Dents de Chien" 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for Armand Heitz’s Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Murgers des Dents de Chien" 2020

Tasting

Color

Pale yellow with bright green highlights, the color reflects the wine’s youth and characteristic freshness.

Nose

The nose reveals beautiful aromatic intensity, dominated by notes of white flowers and orange blossom. Citrus aromas—especially lemon and grapefruit—bring vibrancy, while a pronounced minerality reminiscent of flint comes through. With aeration, nuances of green almond and fresh almond emerge, accompanied by subtle touches of honey and beeswax. A delicate smoky note completes this complex bouquet.

Palate

The attack shows remarkable freshness and fine mineral tension. The mid-palate offers generous breadth and a rich texture, while maintaining a distinct elegance. The finish lingers delicately with lightly spicy notes, bringing complexity and persistence to the overall impression.

Food and wine pairings

This Saint-Aubin 1er cru is an ideal match for seafood, especially oysters, whose briny freshness it highlights. It also pairs perfectly with grilled lobster, pan-seared scallops, or simply prepared noble fish. White meats in a light sauce—such as poultry with cream and herbs—also make excellent pairings. For a more original match, this wine elevates frog legs "jambonnette" with parsley cream.

Serving and cellaring

The Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Murgers des Dents de Chien" 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Brief aeration before serving helps reveal its full aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it also offers cellaring potential of around ten to fifteen years, during which it will develop greater complexity and tertiary nuances.

A Saint-Aubin premier cru with a mineral character and Burgundian elegance

The estate

Founded in 2015 by Armand Heitz, who took over the family vineyards in 2012, this Chassagne-Montrachet estate now farms around twenty hectares in Burgundy, spread across the Côte de Beaune and Beaujolais. Trained in viticulture and oenology, Armand Heitz runs the estate according to a “terroir without filters” philosophy, favoring agronomic common sense over formal certifications. The estate stands out for its regenerative approach integrating livestock, permaculture, and minimalist winemaking, producing wines of remarkable elegance—from Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru to village appellations—while also developing innovative agritourism.

The vineyard

The climat "Murgers des Dents de Chien" occupies a privileged position on the heights of Saint-Aubin, at an altitude between 300 and 350 meters. Located high on the hillside, this terroir benefits from an ideal south-southeast exposure and overlooks the grand crus of Puligny-Montrachet. The soils—composed of limestone, silt, and marls dating from the Bathonian period—give the wines their hallmark mineral tension and distinctive salinity. The typical stony formations known as "murgers" in Burgundy dialect dot the landscape and attest to the site’s geological richness.

The vintage

The year 2020 in Burgundy began with a changeable spring marked by several rainy spells. Beneficial rains in late August ensured good berry hydration before a heatwave in early September accelerated ripening. Harvest began on September 5, making it possible to pick grapes at optimal ripeness while preserving vibrant acidity. Fermentations proceeded normally through December. This vintage is characterized by its freshness, generous fruit, and remarkable finesse.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of the Saint-Aubin 1er cru "Murgers des Dents de Chien" 2020 follows a minimalist approach in keeping with the estate’s philosophy. Fermentations take place naturally with minimal intervention, allowing the terroir to express itself fully. Aging is carried out in oak barrels for eleven months, with 20 to 40% new oak, providing a delicate structure without masking the purity of the fruit and the mineral expression of the limestone terroir.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay.