Antoine Lienhardt

History of Domaine Antoine Lienhardt

The estate's history begins at the end of the 19th century when Gustave Guyot acquired the first lands. His son Anselme, accompanied by his brother George, developed the operation. Anselme then passed the torch to his only son Maurice Guyot, who made local history by being one of the first winemakers in Comblanchien to bottle and sell his wines directly. Renowned for his supple and fruity wines, Maurice retired in 1992 and passed away in 2018 at the age of 95.

In 2011, Antoine Lienhardt, Maurice's grandson, took over the reins after enriching training in prestigious estates (Chablis, Chambolle-Musigny) and a stint in South Africa. Passionate about nature, gastronomy and living wines, he immediately steered the estate toward environmentally respectful viticulture. His sister Héloïse joined him in 2017 to handle the administrative, commercial, export aspects and serve as brand ambassador. Together, they perpetuate a family legacy while infusing a modern, natural and committed vision.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Antoine Lienhardt

Located in the southern part of the Côte de Nuits, in Comblanchien, the estate benefits from limestone terroirs typical of Burgundy, with often shallow soils (30-40 cm of topsoil on limestone bedrock) for emblematic parcels such as Les Essards and Les Plantes aux Bois. The Aux Vignottes parcel, more clayey and deep, offers a minerality and structure reminiscent of more prestigious neighbors like Nuits-Saint-Georges. The vines, planted mainly in the 1960s, are now 50 to 60 years old, ensuring remarkable concentration and complexity.

Antoine Lienhardt works to recreate the lost biodiversity in Burgundy: annual planting of 5 to 10 trees (vineyard peach trees, almond trees…) around the parcels and orchards, sowing of winter cover crops (clover, wheat, peas, Chinese radish since 2020) to nourish the soils, and plowing with horses to limit compaction. This regenerative approach, combined with organic and biodynamic agriculture (respecting lunar cycles, herbal teas, infusions), aims to strengthen the vitality of the vines and the balance of ecosystems.

Vinifications at Domaine Antoine Lienhardt

In the cellar, Antoine favors minimal intervention to let the terroir express itself. The reds are vinified as whole clusters (100%), with short and gentle macerations in stainless steel tanks (approximately 15 days), without inputs or sulfur during vinification. Aging takes place in barrels (mostly old, with very little new oak, often Stockinger in 400 liters), concrete eggs or stoneware jars for a silky texture and fruit preservation. Light sulfiting is added only at bottling if necessary.

The whites benefit from longer aging in large wood, concrete or stoneware containers. Gravity vinifications, the absence of fining/filtration and very limited use of sulfur produce pure, vibrant and digestible wines, true grape juices expressing the Burgundian terroir.

The Cuvées of Domaine Antoine Lienhardt

The estate offers a varied range, from accessible entry-level wines to parcel and high-end négociant cuvées:

Bourgogne Aligoté and Bourgogne Chardonnay: electric, mineral and tonic, perfect for a fresh and lively introduction.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: fruity, elegant and accessible, ideal for discovering the estate's style.

Côte de Nuits-Villages Les Essards: darker, mineral, with notes of black fruits and beautiful depth.

Côte de Nuits-Villages Les Plantes aux Bois: fruity, floral, fine and aromatic red, often more airy.

Côte de Nuits-Villages Aux Vignottes: balanced between generous fruit and mineral structure, reminiscent of northern neighbors.

Côte de Nuits-Villages Emphase: harmonious blend of several parcels around Comblanchien, expressive and complete.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Village: finesse and elegance typical of the appellation.

Other parcel or négociant cuvées: Volnay 1er Cru Santenots, Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Fixin Village, Gamayoptère (Coteaux Bourguignons), as well as summer rosés and experimental white wines (Loir-et-Cher, Meursault…).

These wines stand out for their energy, fruit purity and aging potential (15-20 years for the best), often transcending their appellation thanks to Grand Cru-level work.