Renoir 2020

During that time he abandoned herbicides and transitioned to organic farming, gaining certification in 2020. Wanting to focus solely on estate-grown fruit, he vinifies each old-vine parcel separately: 70% of the vines are planted to Pinot Noir, 27% to Chardonnay, and the remainder to Pinot Meunier. The vines were planted using massal-selection between 1961-1973, and at 50+ years of age have reached perfect maturity.

In the hands of a vigneron focused on meticulous vineyard work these north facing grand cru vineyards are able to reach their maximum potential. All of the wines are vinified in standard 228L Burgundy barrels, less than 10% of them new, with a fairly straightforward élevage of 11 months in barrel with no lees stirring. Reserve wine is added from the previous vintages being aged in 12 & 20 hectoliter foudre. The wines do undergo full malolactic fermentation. They then spend 36 months sur latte and are disgorged with 1g/L dosage.

The cuvee I’m offering today is “Les Epinettes” Extra Brut, a 100% Pinot Noir from the 2020 vintage disgorged in 2024. The style is vinous and gastronomic yet retains all the incisiveness one expects from serious viticulture. If you have not yet discovered this producer this wine comes very highly recommended.