The 2021 vintage at Domaine des Lambrays marks a return to finesse and classical structure after several warmer, more powerful years. In a growing season marked by early frost and reduced yields, the domaine — now under the stewardship of Jacques Devauges and the LVMH group — produced a wine of exceptional elegance, purity, and terroir expression. The Clos des Lambrays vineyard, a walled Grand Cru monopole in the heart of Morey-Saint-Denis, once again proves its singular voice in a vintage that rewards precision and restraint.
In the glass, the wine opens with a garnet hue of medium intensity, tinged with ruby reflections — classic for a cooler vintage. The nose is immediately expressive, with layers that unfold slowly: wild strawberries, crushed raspberries, dried rose petals, and blood orange zest, anchored by savory and mineral tones of forest floor, wet stone, and subtle clove spice. There’s a distinctive cool-toned herbal edge — thyme, pine, and green tea — that gives it a lifted aromatic character.
On the palate, the 2021 Clos des Lambrays is lithe and finely etched, with silky tannins and precise acidity. The fruit profile is red-fruited and fresh, with cranberry, pomegranate, and sour cherry, layered against a backbone of chalky minerality and fine-grained wood tannin. There is no excess or over-ripeness — this is Burgundy at its most transparent, where site and vintage interplay in graceful tension. The use of oak (around 50% new, François Frères barrels) is seamlessly integrated, lending a whisper of vanilla and toast without overshadowing the fruit.
Compared to more opulent vintages like 2019 or 2020, the 2021 shows more classicism, poise, and longevity. Its structure suggests a long future ahead: best 2028–2042, with peak drinking likely around 2032–2036, when tertiary notes of truffle, sous-bois, and game will emerge to add further depth.
This vintage is a beautiful study in elegance over power, and marks a turning point as Domaine des Lambrays continues to refine its style under new leadership. The emphasis on gentle extractions, organic practices, and precision farming results in a wine of quiet confidence and profound detail.
Food pairing: Ideal with refined dishes such as duck breast with cherry reduction, pigeon with chanterelles, or even grilled bluefin tuna. Its freshness also lends itself to Japanese cuisine, such as aged toro sashimi or duck soba.
Final thought: The 2021 Clos des Lambrays is not a blockbuster, but a collector’s vintage — one for purists and lovers of nuance. It reflects both the resilience of Burgundy and the potential of the domaine’s modern chapter: introspective, articulate, and utterly captivating.
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