Lecheneaut

History of Domaine Lécheneaut

The Lécheneaut adventure takes root in the late 1950s, when Fernand Lécheneaut decided to found his domaine in Nuits-Saint-Georges. In its early days, the estate covered only two and a half hectares of vines, scattered across the villages of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis. During its first years of existence, the bulk of production was sold in bulk to négociants, a then common practice in Burgundy.

The decisive turning point came in 1986: after rigorous oenological training at the prestigious Lycée Viticole de Beaune, Fernand's two sons, Philippe and Vincent, took over the family torch with a clear ambition — to make the Lécheneaut name shine well beyond the borders of the Côte d'Or. From 1987, the brothers began extending the vineyard by taking on land on a tenant-farming basis in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée, while also launching estate bottling. Several strategic acquisitions followed: new plots in Premiers Crus in Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin, then the highly noted entry into the domaine de two jewels, the Premier Cru Les Pruliers in Nuits-Saint-Georges and the Clos des Ormes in Morey-Saint-Denis.

Alongside this viticultural expansion, the infrastructure was thoroughly modernised: enlargement of the winery, installation of a thermoregulation system to control fermentations, construction of an additional cellar in 2005 as well as a state-of-the-art storage building. Since 2017, a third generation has been perpetuating this heritage: Jules Lécheneaut, son of Vincent, joined the domaine with the same passion as his forebears, ensuring the continuity of a family saga that embodies, vintage after vintage.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Lécheneaut

One of the great strengths of Domaine Lécheneaut lies in the exceptional diversity of its land holdings. The owner of vines in the five emblematic villages of the Côte de Nuits — Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey-Saint-Denis — the domaine benefits from a palette of terroirs of rare richness, offering each cuvée a distinct and irreducible identity.

The soils of the Côte de Nuits are characterised by a complex mosaic of Jurassic limestones, marls, calcareous brown clays and pebbles. On the Nuits-Saint-Georges plots, the terroirs vary between gravelly and silty soils to the north, resulting from hillside erosion, and deeper soils of marl-limestone composition to the south, as on the lieu-dit Les Damodes. In Morey-Saint-Denis, the soil of the Clos de la Roche is strongly calcareous, with barely thirty centimetres of earth resting on large blocks of limestone rock, a demanding geology that concentrates nutrients and forces the vine to draw deeply, yielding wines of remarkable minerality and tension.

The management of the vineyard reflects a philosophy of absolute respect for the environment and the agronomic balance of the soils. Since the year 2000, only organic products have been used for phytosanitary protection, and fertilisation is provided exclusively by organic matter, in order to preserve microbial life and soil structure. Yields are deliberately limited to concentrate aromas and guarantee optimal quality at harvest. In the domaine's vineyards, it is not uncommon to encounter a plough horse, a symbol of a sincere attachment to working the land in the purest Burgundian tradition. The advanced age of certain vines — up to sixty years for the Clos de la Roche plot — contributes to the depth and aromatic complexity of the wines produced.

Vinifications of Domaine Lécheneaut

In the cellar, Philippe and Vincent Lécheneaut apply the same rigour as in the vineyard. The harvest, picked at optimal ripeness, undergoes meticulous selective sorting so that only grapes in perfect condition are brought into the winery. Destemming is partial and modulated according to the characteristics of each vintage, and may extend to retaining up to fifty per cent whole clusters, a practice that preserves the freshness of the fruit and lends a more elegant tannic structure.

Fermentations are conducted with indigenous yeasts, fostering the authentic expression of the terroir and the vintage. The winery, equipped with a high-performance thermoregulation system, allows fermentation temperatures to be controlled with precision, ensuring a measured extraction of tannins and optimal preservation of the Pinot Noir's fruity aromas.

Ageing lasts eighteen months, exclusively in French oak barrels sourced from the finest high-forest woodlands, a meticulous selection that ensures a high-quality and well-integrated oak influence. Each year, approximately one third of the barrel stock is renewed, with the percentage of new barrels adjusted according to the power of the vintage and the nobility of the cru. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally during this ageing period, contributing to the rounding of the tannins and to the aromatic complexity of the wines. The result is a range of Burgundies in a classic and elegant style: straight, precise, of beautiful substance, with no excess of body or extraction, offering a faithful and nuanced reading of each climat.

The cuvées of Domaine Lécheneaut

Marsannay Rouge

Situated at the entrance to the Côte de Nuits, the Marsannay terroir offers wines of beautiful vivacity. The cuvée from Domaine Lécheneaut stands out for its brilliant ruby robe and its aromas of small red fruits mingled with gentle spices. The palate is fresh, taut, endowed with silky tannins and a beautiful aromatic persistence. An accessible and sincere wine, reflecting a terroir that is still underestimated.

Morey-Saint-Denis

At the heart of the Côte de Nuits, between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis yields wines of great complexity. The village cuvée from Domaine Lécheneaut combines power and finesse: an intense nose of black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), nuances of woodland and spices, a fleshy palate with firm yet velvety tannins, a long mineral finish. A wine for ageing that fully blossoms after five to eight years in the cellar.

Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Clos des Ormes

A jewel of the domaine in Morey-Saint-Denis, the Clos des Ormes is a Premier Cru of assertive character. Its clay-limestone soil, typical of the village, gives the wine a dense structure and a pronounced minerality. The nose develops complex aromas of very ripe black fruits, violet and liquorice, while the palate reveals rich substance, tight tannins and a remarkable length.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

The absolute flagship of Domaine Lécheneaut, the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is one of the rarest and most sought-after cuvées of the domaine, produced at only 450 bottles per year. Planted in the lieu-dit des Monts Luisants on a very calcareous soil, this Grand Cru from Morey-Saint-Denis benefits from vines averaging sixty years of age. The wine is athletic, spirited and very vinous: on the nose, it develops intense aromas of spices (pepper, cinnamon, clove) and black fruits. The palate is powerful, structured by a precise acidity and a tannic richness that does not preclude finesse. It is a wine of very long ageing potential, capable of evolving magnificently over fifteen to twenty years. 

Chambolle-Musigny

A village renowned for producing the most feminine and elegant Pinot Noirs of the Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny is superbly represented by Domaine Lécheneaut. The village cuvée seduces with its delicacy: a translucent ruby robe, a bouquet of great finesse blending cherry, rose and woodland notes, a light and silky palate with tannins of great subtlety. A wine of lace, to be enjoyed from its earliest years or left to refine in the cellar.

Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru

The Chambolle-Musigny Premiers Crus crafted by Lécheneaut reach a further level of complexity and depth. On calcareous and clay-limestone soils along the hillside slopes, the vine produces here grapes of exceptional concentration. The Premier Cru cuvée reveals an elegant nose of red fruits, violet and fine spices, an ample and silky palate, refined tannins and a beautiful length. A wine of great nobility, perfectly illustrating the domaine's aromatic signature.

Gevrey-Chambertin

Gevrey-Chambertin, a legendary terroir, is one of the most powerful crus of the Côte de Nuits. The village cuvée from Domaine Lécheneaut offers a faithful interpretation: a deep robe with garnet highlights, an intense nose of black fruits, leather and spices, a fleshy and structured palate with firm yet well-rounded tannins. A complete wine, which deserves a few years in the cellar to express its full potential.

Vosne-Romanée

A mythical commune that is home to the Romanée-Conti, Vosne-Romanée sets every one of its winemakers an absolute standard of excellence. Domaine Lécheneaut produces there a wine of great elegance: a sophisticated nose of black cherry, truffle and violet, a velvety and precise palate, silky tannins and an endless finish with spiced notes. A wine that brilliantly illustrates the domaine's expertise on this exceptional terroir.

Nuits-Saint-Georges

The birthplace of the domaine, Nuits-Saint-Georges holds a very special place in the hearts of the Lécheneaut brothers. The village cuvée brings together several complementary plots — Les Damodes, Les Saint-Jacques, Les Herbues, Les Tuyaux, Les Belles Croix, Les Charmois and Les Chaliots — whose average vine age is around fifty years. The resulting wine is of beautiful complexity: a nose of black fruits, liquorice and spices, a dense and generous palate with solid yet fine tannins, a long mineral finish. A classic Nuits-Saint-Georges, straight and precise.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Vieilles Vignes au Chouillet

One of the domaine's emblematic cuvées, crafted from old Pinot Noir vines planted on a calcareous and clay soil with unique characteristics. The robe is a deep, brilliant ruby; the nose, intense and complex, develops aromas of ripe red fruits, woodland, spices and smoky notes. The palate reveals a concentrated substance, melted tannins and a beautiful minerality on the finish. This wine benefits from an excellent ageing potential of ten to fifteen years. Served at 16–18°C after one hour of decanting, it will pair magnificently with duck breast with cherries, roasted game or a well-aged Époisses.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Pruliers

A major figure of the domaine, this Premier Cru from Nuits-Saint-Georges is one of the most remarkable acquisitions in the domaine's history. Planted on a brown, stony calcareous soil resting on coarse limestones of the lower Bathonian, with an average vine age of forty-two years, Les Pruliers yields wines of exceptional precision and depth. On the nose: concentrated black fruits, truffle, spices and roasted notes. On the palate: dense substance, tight tannins, structuring acidity and a finish of remarkable length. A wine of great ageing potential, emblematic of the domaine's excellence in Burgundian terroir wines.