Domaine des Lambrays : Clos des Lambrays Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2021 from Domaine des Lambrays

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance shows a ruby red color of medium depth, revealing a beautiful luminosity characteristic of this cooler vintage.

Nose

The nose is aromatic and fragrant, dominated by black fruit notes such as blueberry and blackberry, accompanied by nuances of fresh fruit pulp, sandalwood, violet, and rose petal. With aeration, an earthy dimension emerges, evoking damp undergrowth and freshly turned earth, while touches of fresh herbs bring a vegetal complexity. Secondary aromas develop gradually, revealing notes of cedar, sage, sweet herbs, and white pepper, subtly enhanced by cinnamon and clove.

Palate

The attack distinguishes itself by its freshness and precision, offering surprising delicacy for a Grand Cru. The body reveals itself as medium-structured, reflecting the cooler conditions of the vintage. The mid-palate unveils a layering of flavors, with red fruits like cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate developing gradually. The tannic structure is particularly refined and velvety, without any hardness or aggressive astringency. The wine expresses exceptional minerality and a limestone tension that manifests notably in the mid-palate, conferring an intellectual precision that avoids any heaviness. The finish stretches out with elegance and length, characterized by remarkable freshness. Final sensations reveal suggestions of citrus, licorice, and dark spices, concluding on a gentle warmth and persistent minerality recalling the terroir's limestone composition.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2021 pairs harmoniously with roasted red meats such as a prime rib or tournedos, poultry and game birds like duck confit, roasted pheasant, or pigeon. It also goes wonderfully with classic French cuisine preparations such as coq au vin or beef bourguignon. Aged pressed cheeses like Gruyère or Comté make for perfect pairings. Preparations highlighting wild mushrooms, notably porcini, morels, or chanterelles, create particularly successful harmonies that underscore the wine's earthy notes.

Service and cellaring

Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2021 can be enjoyed from 2024-2025 and will continue to evolve until around 2050, with an optimal maturity window estimated between 2027 and 2050 depending on storage conditions.

An elegant and complex Burgundy Grand Cru

The estate

Domaine des Lambrays, acquired by the LVMH group in 2014, possesses a documented wine history dating back to 1365. Managed since 2019 by Jacques Devauges, the estate today extends over approximately fifteen hectares including the prestigious Clos des Lambrays, elevated to Grand Cru rank in 1981. A quasi-monopole property of 8.7 hectares, the estate engaged in an ambitious transformation with the conversion to organic and biodynamic farming, certified in 2022, and the construction of new winemaking facilities operational since 2022. The estate distinguishes itself by its innovative plot-by-plot approach that respects the Clos' exceptional geological diversity.

The vineyard

Clos des Lambrays occupies a privileged position south of the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, at an altitude of approximately 250 meters. The vineyard presents pronounced slopes with an elevation difference of about sixty meters, creating a remarkable diversity of microclimates and soil compositions. The vines are planted perpendicular to the slope according to a historical configuration. The geology is characterized by great variety: the upper parts present shallow clay-limestone marl soils, the middle section offers a balanced composition of clay and limestone, while the lower zones reveal deeper clay soils. The south-east exposure allows for capturing the morning sun while benefiting from shade in the afternoon. The average age of the vines exceeds sixty years, with certain plots dating back to 1865.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was characterized by significantly cooler conditions than previous years. The winter was marked by an episode of intense frost affecting the entire French vineyard. A milder spring favored flowering in late May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Meteorological instability was observed between mid-July and mid-August. These conditions led to exceptionally low yields, about half of an average harvest, requiring rigorous pruning and selection decisions to maximize concentration.

Winemaking and ageing

Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2021 was produced according to the plot-by-plot approach implemented by Jacques Devauges, with the vineyard divided into eleven distinct plots vinified separately in custom-made wooden vats. The vinification used 80% whole clusters, a deliberately high proportion to highlight the vegetal, herbaceous, and mineral characteristics of the terroir. After vinification, the different plots were aged for approximately twenty months in French oak barrels, including 20% new wood. The plots were then blended before bottling, respecting the natural proportions of each terroir without selection favoring certain zones.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir