2021 Domaine Cruchandeau Ladoix Les Ranches

Producer Julien Cruchandeau has been actively managing his vineyards since 2003 in Burgundy, with sites in Chaux in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits above Nuits-Saint-Georges and in underappreciated appellations such as Bouzeron and Ladoix. In these vineyards—one of which, at the northern end of the Côtes de Nuits below 1er Cru La Micaude, was established in 1974—the vines are maintained at low yields using organic and sustainable practices (in place since 2011 without chemical fertilizers) to express the distinct characteristics of each terroir. The grapes, predominantly Pinot Noir (with selective production of Chardonnay for white cuvées), are hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The winemaking process employs a low-temperature maceration period of ten days and, in some cases, includes 30% whole cluster fermentation. Primary fermentation occurs in vats, followed by an aging period that can range from eight to 18 months in either vats or oak casks—with aging in oak including 12 months on fine lees and the use of 10% new oak—and with minimal filtration (except for the unfiltered Nuits-Saint-Georges cuvée). This approach, which blends traditional techniques with modern practices, is a testament to the producer’s commitment to both sustainable viticulture and the authentic expression of Burgundy’s terroirs.