Domaine Henri Boillot : Echezeaux Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Echezeaux Grand Cru 2021 from Domaine Henri Boillot

Tasting

Color

The color displays a deep ruby hue with subtle black nuances.

Nose

The bouquet initially reveals aromas of cherry and stone fruits. With aeration, darker notes of blackberry and blackcurrant emerge, accompanied by spicy touches. The nose continues to evolve, unveiling tertiary nuances of leather, humus and forest floor.

Palate

The attack is delicate while retaining a lovely structure. The mid-palate offers a harmonious balance with well-integrated, supple and refined tannins. The finish lingers elegantly, carried by a saline minerality and fine energy. The tannins grow softer and more open as the tasting progresses.

Food and wine pairings

This grand cru pairs perfectly with a herb-roasted leg of lamb, a grilled beef tenderloin, or a braised rib of beef served with root vegetables and mushrooms. Noble poultry such as duck or pigeon, prepared roasted or cooked pink, also make excellent partners. Feathered or furred game, such as wild boar stew or venison ragout, will enhance the wine’s aromatic complexity. Aged hard cheeses, such as a well-matured Comté, also offer a fine match.

Serving and cellaring

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2021 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. Opening it 30 minutes to an hour in advance, or decanting, will allow the wine to fully express its aromatic complexity.

The structure and mouthfeel of a great Burgundy grand cru

The estate

The Domaine Henri Boillot traces its origins back to 1885, when the Boillot family began its winegrowing activity in Burgundy. Established in Meursault, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the estate officially took its current name in 2005 when Henri Boillot bought out his brothers’ and sisters’ shares. Today, Henri and his son Guillaume, who joined the estate in 2008, run this roughly fifteen-hectare domaine together, spread across prestigious plots in Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Volnay. The domaine has built an international reputation for white wines of remarkable purity and precision, crafted according to a philosophy of sustainable viticulture and minimalist winemaking.

The vineyard

Echezeaux is one of the most prestigious grand crus of the Côte de Nuits, located near the village of Flagey-Echezeaux. The appellation covers around 36 hectares of vines planted between 230 and 300 meters above sea level, on moderate slopes averaging 13%. The soils form a complex mosaic of marls and red silts scattered with small stones, resting on a Bajocian limestone base from the Jurassic. This geological diversity gives the wines exceptional finesse combined with a remarkable structure and significant aging potential. The terroir benefits from an oceanic climate with semi-continental influences, promoting optimal ripening of Pinot Noir.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly challenging, marked by severe spring frosts that significantly reduced yields throughout the region. Despite these trying conditions, the parcels that escaped the frost produced grapes of remarkable quality. The 2021 red wines stand out for their harmonious, elegant character, with more moderate alcohol levels than in previous vintages. This year gave rise to wines in a quintessentially Burgundian style, emphasizing freshness, fruit expression and fine vibrancy.

Winemaking and aging

The Echezeaux Grand Cru 2021 is produced in keeping with the estate’s philosophy, favoring respect for the fruit and the expression of terroir. Harvesting is carried out by hand with rigorous bunch selection. Parcel-by-parcel vinification is conducted with indigenous yeasts, followed by 22 to 25 days of maceration with manual punch-downs. After the first racking, the wine is transferred into barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aging then continues in oak barrels for about 18 months, allowing the wine to develop complexity while preserving its natural elegance.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir