Armand Heitz : Saint-Aubin Village 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2021 Saint-Aubin Village from Armand Heitz

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a pale yellow hue with bright golden highlights.

Nose

The nose opens with delicate aromas of pear and citrus, accompanied by fresh floral notes. Slightly oaky nuances round out this elegant, mineral bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this white wine shows a slightly complex structure carried by lovely vibrancy. Pear and citrus flavors linger with freshness, supported by a hallmark minerality and subtle oaky touches that add texture.

Food and wine pairings

This 2021 Saint-Aubin Village pairs perfectly with fish in a creamy sauce, seafood, poultry with cream and mushrooms, as well as a platter of soft cheeses such as Camembert or Brie.

Serving and cellaring

The 2021 Saint-Aubin Village is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

A fresh, mineral Saint-Aubin white

The estate

Founded in 2012 when Armand Heitz, a graduate of the Changins School of Oenology, took over the family estate in Burgundy, Domaine Armand Heitz now farms twenty hectares of vines spread across the prestigious appellations of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, including Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard, Volnay and several Grands Crus. Armand Heitz stands out for his regenerative approach integrating viticulture, cattle and sheep farming across one hundred and eighty hectares, permaculture gardens and a farm restaurant. Rejecting formal certifications, he favors authentic agronomic practices: whole-bunch harvesting, mulching, cover crops and minimal intervention in the cellar, producing elegant wines that faithfully express their Burgundian terroirs.

The vineyard

The Saint-Aubin appellation lies in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, between Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. The vines are planted on hillsides and ridgelines at an average altitude of around three hundred meters. The soils, composed mainly of limestone and granite, give the wines the distinctive minerality that characterizes the appellation.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly demanding. The year was marked by episodes of frost, shatter, downy mildew and powdery mildew, which significantly reduced yields. Harvest began on September 17, with red parcels picked before the whites, an unusual sequence for the estate. Despite alternating rain and sunshine during harvest, which continued until early October, grapes from parcels that benefited from late pruning and frost protection reached attractive ripeness. The vintage is defined by its freshness and its authentic Burgundian character.

Vinification and aging

The 2021 Saint-Aubin Village is vinified according to the estate’s minimal-intervention philosophy. The grapes are hand-harvested into small crates to preserve their integrity. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts and a minimum of additions. Fermentation conditions for the 2021 vintage proved ideal, with favorable temperatures requiring little temperature control. Aging takes place in oak barrels with a moderate proportion of new oak, helping preserve the purity of the fruit and the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.