It was wonderful to be able to visit Domaine Lécheneaut again this year. On this occasion, we met Vincent’s son Jules, who is assuming an increasingly active role after finishing his studies and completing some work experience in Oregon. As restated each and every time we mention them, the Lécheneauts are so connected to their vines and vineyards that a tasting with them is always refreshingly honest and authentic. These traits comes through again and again in the wines, and the 2020s are no exception, with a heightened sense of terroir expression from the outset. The wines here continue to excel in quality and value with the only downside being a third consecutive year of falling yield.
2020 Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Domaine Lécheneaut
£120 per 6 bottle case in bond
Perfumed red and blue berry fruit on the nose. The palate shows excellent weight and balance. Clean fresh fruit all the way through with scented lift and lovely harmony. Drink 2023-2027
2020 Morey-St Denis, Domaine Lécheneaut
£210 per 6 bottle case in bond
Ripe, sweet blue fruit on the nose here with excellent fruit intensity following through to the palate. There is a pleasing depth of fruit allied to the mineral Morey vein that gives a linear underpinning to the nevertheless rich, ripe blue fruit. Touch of peppery typicity on the vibrant finish. Good length and balance. Drink 2024-2032
2020 Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Lécheneaut SOLD OUT
£240 per 6 bottle case in bond
The Lécheneaut Gevrey villages shows an incredible purity of forest fruit on the nose. This fruit carries through to the palate with a magnificent stony mineral tension. There is a fine, tightly wound core of fruit here – focused, driven and long. A very fine expression of Gevrey-Chambertin. Drink 2025-2035
2020 Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Lécheneaut
£240 per 6 bottle case in bond
Bright red fruit on the nose, floral and sweetly scented. The sweet red fruit comes through on a palate that flows delicately and silkily, finishing with a real white stone mineral length and red fruit persistence. Drink 2024-2032
2020 Nuits-St Georges, Domaine Lécheneaut
£195 per 6 bottle case in bond
This cuvée has become better and better year on year for some time now already. There is a completeness to the palate and a sense of harmony with deep fruit, freshness and an overall sense of balance. There is even a lifted floral touch at the very end with the fine-grained, irony-mineral tannins. There is a depth of fruit here that makes the Nuits villages really juicy and more-ish. Drink 2024-2035
2020 Nuits-St Georges, Aux Chouillets, Domaine Lécheneaut
£225 per 6 bottle case in bond
The tannins are more present and powerful initially in the Chouillets, but their finesse is evident on the long finish here. The palate is taut with pure, ripe, exuberantly healthy blue and red fruit on a gracefully flowing palate that shows tension and energy and nevertheless finishes with a certain tannic power and presence. Drink 2025-2035
2020 Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, Les Bourniques, Domaine Lécheneaut SOLD OUT
£360 per 6 bottle case in bond
Intense pure red fruit here on the nose. A floral quality too. The palate shows a juicy, ripe fruit underpinned by chalky mineral tannins of great finesse. A real mineral drive here, persistent and finely pixelated. Drink 2025-2038
2020 Nuits-St Georges Premier Cru, Aux Argillas, Domaine Lécheneaut
£360 per 6 bottle case in bond
A new wine to the Lécheneaut portfolio, Aux Argillas is a premier cru located at the exit of the Combe and is fully south facing. While the soil has clay, it is also characterised by a wealth of small pebbles and is generally lighter. The wine is consequently expressive, perfumed, open, accessible. On the palate there is a pleasing fluidity with a supple swathe of red fruit, caressing and silky. The tannins are present and are stony in nature but well balanced to this more open style. A nice addition to the range that complements the Damodes and Pruliers in bringing a third distinct style. Drink 2025-2038
2020 Nuits-St Georges Premier Cru, Les Damodes, Domaine Lécheneaut
£360 per 6 bottle case in bond
Initially quite closed, but on the palate, there is a velvety richness and healthy, ripe, clean fruit. The substantial fruit shows gravitas rather than being in any way overblown and there is a sense of power to the frame of tannins which support and give structure to the richness of fruit harnessed here. A compelling Damodes. Drink 2026-2040
2020 Nuits-St Georges Premier Cru, Les Pruliers, Domaine Lécheneaut
£360 per 6 bottle case in bond
An immediate sense of Nuits tension here. Tightly wound, ungiving currently but allowing a glimpse of great concentration of ripe fruit beneath. Opening gradually with time in the glass, starting to express creamy red berries, raspberry, cherry. The palate exhibits the tensile power of the Pruliers vineyard with a distinctly different tannin and mineral structure to the Damodes that here instead shows an intense stony grip and focused power. Drink 2027-2040
2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Domaine Lécheneaut SOLD OUT
£975 per 6 bottle case in bond
A creamy note of oak gives way to a healthy ripe black cherry, blueberry, and loganberry fruit profile. Great depth of fruit and concentration. The creamy berry fruit persists on a palate of incredible length and purity. The mineral tension and poise are remarkable and promise a complex and long-lived Clos de la Roche. A shame there is so little. Drink 2028-2045