2024 Charles Lachaux Cote de Nuits-Villages "Aux Montagnes"

Charles Lachaux

Charles Lachaux is currently one of the most dynamic and intensely watched winemakers in Burgundy, representing a radical shift in modern viticulture. As the head of Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux and his eponymous négoce project, his philosophy centers on an unwavering commitment to the vineyard. Lachaux has pioneered extreme high-density planting and a unique method of vine training called pissage (coiling the canopy over instead of hedging it), which minimizes stress on the plant and preserves natural sap flow. In the cellar, his approach is hands-off yet meticulous: utilizing high proportions of whole-cluster fermentation, minimizing sulfur additions, and significantly reducing or eliminating the use of new oak to allow the pure, vertical expression of the terroir to take center stage. His wines are defined by their vibrant energy, floral aromatic perfume, and tense, chiseled structure, making them highly allocated allocations targeted heavily by elite private collectors globally.  

Charles Lachaux Cote de Nuits-Villages "Aux Montagnes" 2024

The 2024 Côte de Nuits-Villages "Aux Montagnes" is a compelling demonstration of how world-class viticulture can completely transcend appellation boundaries. Sourced from the historic "Aux Montagnes" climat in Comblanchien, this vineyard sits on chiseled, stony limestone soils that naturally drive high saline minerality. While the highly erratic 2024 growing season punished lower-tier producers, Lachaux's strict canopy discipline and micro-yielding forced an exceptional concentration of phenolics into the fruit. Vinified with a high proportion of whole clusters and raised completely in seasoned barrels, this expression strips away the rustic weight often associated with the appellation, replacing it with a tense, multi-layered aromatic perfume, electric freshness, and a chiseled clarity that rivals far more prestigious crus up the slope.