The 2021 vintage was a tough one in Burgundy. A severe spring frost lowered yields dramatically, and the rest of the season was cool and wet. From a vigneron’s perspective, it was a year to forget – tons of work, for a small crop of limited aging potential.
But from a consumer’s perspective, it’s a sneaky good vintage. It sports neither the concentration nor the ripeness of hot dry years like 2020 and 2022, but this means an opportunity for those without patience or a cellar. Now with a few years in the bottle, the vintage has begun to drink superbly.
An excellent example is Pierre Gros’s Nuit-St-Georges “Les Chaliots,” a single vineyard pinot noir from the heart of the Nuits appellation. Gros’s style is finessed and elegant, all destemmed and with a long relaxing elevage – and it beautifully matches the shape of this featherweight vintage.
Trying to convert a dedicated Cali-Cab drinker to red Burgundy? This might be a little dramatic. But for those with a taste for subtlety and understatement, this is simply delicious. Serve outside from a decanter on a spring afternoon.
____________________________
Gros Nuits-St-Georges “Chalilots” 2021
bottle price: $85
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES
