Antoine Lienhardt is shattering long-held beliefs about Burgundian terroir and winemaking.
He’s biodynamically farmed his family’s old-vine holdings in and around Comblanchien for 10 years, and in that time he has proved a point... Read More
Antoine Lienhardt is shattering long-held beliefs about Burgundian terroir and winemaking.
He’s biodynamically farmed his family’s old-vine holdings in and around Comblanchien for 10 years, and in that time he has proved a point about the local terroir. Wines from Combalchien can only be labelled "Côte de Nuits Villages," but Antoine believes they have Premier Cru — and even Grand Cru — potential. The village, just past Nuits-Saint-Georges, has vineyards with perfect mid-slope positions…just like Burgundy’s Grand Crus.
From the beginning, Antoine treated his parcels as though they were Grand Cru. He keeps yields down and sorts meticulously to eliminate any sub-optimal fruit. That sort of attention to detail is out of the ordinary in a place that can't command Grand Cru prices. But it pays off in beautiful fruit that expresses the subtle variations of Lienhardt's terroir.
Antoine is also that rarest of things: a natural winemaker in Burgundy. Few others want to take on the risk, but Antoine is convinced that manipulations will compromise his wines' ability to reflect their terroir. Except for a little bit of sulfur at bottling, he works without interventions. The wines are vibrant and alive, with the terroir expressiveness of true Burgundy.
Antoine’s two theses are proven true: Comblanchien is great terroir, and natural winemaking is a great way to reveal that terroir. Don't be fooled by the sheer pleasure they afford: these are wines with the balance and the substance to age beautifully. Antoine suggests 10+ years, even for the Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Who are we to argue?
