2021 Monthélie, Cuvée Miss Armande, Domaine Monthelie-Douhairet-Porcheret, Burgundy
Critics reviews
Tank sample for bottling in March.
Mid crimson. Ripe cherries and plenty of fruit sweetness. A little leathery on the palate in flavour and texture. Firm, well built – definitely a wine for the table. Lots of freshness and energy in a style that is less aromatic than many 2021s.
Drink 2025 - 2031
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (January 2023)
About this WINE
Domaine Monthélie-Douhairet-Porcheret
Located in the village of Monthélie in the Côte de Beaune subregion of Burgundy, Domaine Monthélie-Douhairet-Porcheret was established in 2003 through the merger of two historic family estates: Domaine Monthélie-Douhairet and Domaine Porcheret. The estate is currently managed by the talented winemaker, Fabienne Douhairet, who is known for her commitment to producing high-quality wines that reflect the region's unique terroir.
The domaine owns and manages approximately 7 hectares of vineyards, primarily planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards are located in some of the most prestigious appellations of Burgundy, including Monthélie, Volnay, Pommard, and Meursault. Sustainable viticulture is practised at the domaine, focusing on preserving the natural balance of the vineyards and minimising the use of chemicals.
The wines of Domaine Monthélie-Douhairet-Porcheret are highly regarded for their elegance, finesse, and purity of fruit. The domaine produces a range of red and white wines, including premier cru and village-level bottlings. The wines are aged in French oak barrels to enhance their complexity and structure, and are noted for their ability to age gracefully over time.
Monthélie
A small village nestling in a valley behind Meursault and Volnay, Monthelie produces mostly red wines, mini-Volnays with appealing fruit but sometimes a rustic edge, and a small amount of white wine. The best wines come from the steep slopes above the village, such as Les Duresses.
- 109 hectares of village Monthelie.
- 31 hectares of premier cru vineyards (11 in all). Best vineyard is Les Duresses.
- Recommended Producer: Lafon
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.
Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
Save 10% on the 75cl bottle, previously priced at £33.00 Offer valid while stocks last. BBX listings excluded.
Tank sample for bottling in March.
Mid crimson. Ripe cherries and plenty of fruit sweetness. A little leathery on the palate in flavour and texture. Firm, well built – definitely a wine for the table. Lots of freshness and energy in a style that is less aromatic than many 2021s.
Drink 2025 - 2031
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (January 2023)
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