2021 Arnaud Baillot Echezeaux Grand Cru

The 2021 Arnaud Baillot Echezeaux Grand Cru is a refined and expressive red Burgundy from one of the Côte de Nuits’ most storied Grand Cru vineyards. Crafted in limited quantities, it captures the tension, finesse, and purity that define the 2021 vintage in Burgundy. This is a wine for collectors and Burgundy lovers seeking nuance over sheer power. As a Grand Cru from Echezeaux, this Pinot Noir stands out for its layered aromatics, fine-boned structure, and remarkable length on the palate. The cooler, lower-yield 2021 vintage has delivered a wine with vivid fruit, lifted florals, and impressive freshness, echoing classic vintages of the past. Echezeaux itself has a long and prestigious history, with references to its vineyards dating back centuries, and it remains one of the Côte de Nuits’ most coveted climats for Pinot Noir of depth, elegance, and aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Arnaud Baillot Echezeaux Grand Cru shows a radiant, medium ruby hue with garnet reflections at the rim, hinting at both purity and concentration. The nose opens gradually with red and dark berries—wild strawberry, raspberry, and morello cherry—woven together with rose petals, violet, and a subtle spice box. With air, more complex notes emerge: forest floor, black tea, delicate oak toast, and a touch of graphite and citrus peel, all in beautiful balance rather than dominance. On the palate, this is precise and finely etched rather than heavy, with a silken texture typical of top Echezeaux. Juicy red and black cherry fruit is lifted by lively acidity, while ultra-fine tannins provide structure without aggression. Hints of blood orange, savory herbs, white pepper, and a gentle minerality carry through to a long, persistent finish. Still youthful, the wine is already harmonious but clearly built to evolve. Expect it to drink well from now with proper aeration, and to develop further layers of truffle, sous-bois, and tertiary complexity over 10–15 years, potentially longer in ideal cellar conditions.

Production
This Grand Cru hails from Echezeaux in the Côte de Nuits, an elevated site with a patchwork of parcels marked by well-drained clay-limestone soils over hard limestone bedrock. The combination of slope, aspect, and stony, poor soils naturally moderates yields and concentrates flavor, while the cooler 2021 growing season preserved acidity and aromatic delicacy. Grapes are typically harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, with careful sorting in the vineyard and at the winery to keep only pristine clusters. Vinification for a cuvée of this level generally involves gentle destemming (or a proportion of whole clusters depending on the vintage), a cool maceration to enhance fragrance, and a controlled fermentation in small vats. Aging takes place in French oak barrels, a portion of which are new, to add texture and complexity without overwhelming the clarity of the fruit or the expression of terroir.

Food & Serving
This Echezeaux Grand Cru shines alongside refined dishes that mirror its elegance and depth. Think roast duck with cherries, pigeon, veal tenderloin, or lamb racks with herbs, as well as classic Burgundian fare like coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon prepared with care and restraint. Earthy accompaniments—wild mushrooms, truffle-infused dishes, or root vegetable gratins—underline its subtle savory notes, while hard cheeses such as aged Comté or Gruyère also make excellent partners. Serve at 15–17°C (59–63°F) to highlight the wine’s aromatic detail and silky structure. For drinking now, decant gently for 45–90 minutes to allow the bouquet to unfurl; for bottles with more bottle age, a shorter decant or careful slow-oxygenation in the glass is recommended.

Producer
Arnaud Baillot is part of a new wave of Burgundian producers bringing fresh energy and precision to some of the region’s most revered appellations. Working from Beaune, he crafts wines from carefully selected parcels across the Côte d’Or, with a focus on expressing the individuality of each terroir through thoughtful, small-scale winemaking. His approach emphasizes meticulous vineyard selection, low-intervention cellar work, and a balanced, modern classic style that respects Burgundy’s traditions while appealing to today’s fine-wine drinker. Though relatively young compared to some of the region’s centuries-old domaines, the Arnaud Baillot name has been gaining recognition for delivering articulate, terroir-driven bottlings—especially from prestigious sites like Echezeaux Grand Cru—that overdeliver on purity, finesse, and typicity.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.