The dense, dark-fruited Mercurey's of Domaine Jeannin-Naltet are the epitome of modern, good-value red burgundy.  An offer of their 2021 vintage wines is a great way to bridge the gap between these glum, post-Christmas days and the Burgundy 2021 en primeur offers which will follow over the next week or two.  For around £30 per bottle including taxes, the wines will give you lots to smile about when they arrive later this year!  

At the helm at his family domaine for ten years, Benoît Eschard is now rightly but quietly confident in the quality of his wines, which was apparent when he showed us cask samples of the 2021 'Clos des Grand Voyens' and 'Les Nauges'. 

He told us that even when the wines were fermenting he was unsure of the result, so he was very happy indeed when he found that they have lovely, classical balance, fine aromatics and elegance.  The key for him is approaching each vintage afresh and adapting the winemaking accordingly, an approach which he summed-up with an aphorism which roughly translates: "If a winemaker says in before the vintage, ‘I know how to do it', this is the beginning of the end!"    

50% of the total harvest was lost to frost, but this statistic only tells part of the story, as Benoît's vines are already very low-yielding.  Most of his domaine is rated 1er Cru, with the vines on the higher slopes, hit hardest by frost.  Happily, as elsewhere, the reduction in quantity did result in concentration in the remaining fruit, which accounts for the success here.  

Benoît's 4.9ha monopole vineyard 'Clos des Grands Voyens' is usually the more forward and accessible wine and this was true for the 2021.  The 1er Cru 'Les Nauges', Benoît's personal favourite, was more closed, showing the influence of limestone on this site, but the aromas were precise and pure, with lots of promise.  Both wines should be approachable quite early and Benoît even suggests drinking the 2021s before the 2020s (although the '21s will also age well).

Our allocations are much-reduced on previous years, so we expect to sell out at en primeur, therefore please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to place an order.

Offered En Primeur, due to land in the UK in autumn 2023.