Nuits St Georges Aux Argillas Jean Tardy 2021 (750ML)

Jean Tardy's parcel in the Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Aux Argillas covers just 0.39 hectares of clay-limestone, with vines planted in 1969 and 1973 and farmed sustainably. The Pinot Noir is harvested by hand and fully destemmed, with around 65% of the berries kept whole, then worked with minimal punch-downs and aged 18 months in barrel, half new and half one year old, racked once before bottling. The 2021 is pale ruby and quietly perfumed: wild strawberry, raspberry and red cherry, with a hint of flowers, a little earth and a dusting of white pepper. Medium-bodied and restrained, it relies on detail rather than weight, with fine-grained tannins and a flick of orange zest on the finish. Critics see it drinking from the mid-2020s, with one advising patience until 2029. Pair it with roast quail, coq au vin, or a mild washed-rind cheese.