Again, this is a unique bottling in 2021 that includes several of Dureuil’s village lieux-dits traditionally bottled separately. This year, in addition to Le Meix Cadot, Rosey and Montagne de Remenot—which cover just under three hectares in total—we have Maizières and En Guesnes, a cracking site on cool soils tucked behind the Meix Cadot. The average age of the vines for the 2021 blend is roughly 50 years.
Using a draconian selection, the grapes were destemmed and loaded into large, old wooden fermenters. The grapes were held at 7°C and, like all Dureuil’s wines, the fermentations were natural, slow and long. The wine matured for 18 months in one-third new oak. It was bottled without filtration according to the lunar cycle. Another knockout in 2021, it’s full of pure wild berry and iodine-scented fruit framed by firm acidity and fine tannins. Marrying depth, earth, finesse, spice and the depth of serious Chalonnaise Pinot, each sip reminds us of everything we admire about this special grower.