Visit – Domaine Heitz-Lochardet – tasting of the 2015s

On my March 2017 trip to Burgundy I had the chance to revisit Armand Heitz at Domaine Heitz-Lochardet to retaste some of the 2015s from bottle.

I tasted the 2015s for the first time in June 2016 – before bottling – and I have revisited the wines since and is getting increasingly impressed – especially the whites have gained focus and balance since bottling.

Armand Heitz, March 2017, tasting after a day in the vineyards

Armand Heitz has made some magnificent wines in 2015 – and this estate is in my view one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Both the reds and the whites are showing very fine promise and potential … will be very exiting to follow.

For further details about the estate – check the producer insight.

In the 2015 vintage Armand Heitz introduced the first wines from his negociant business called Armand Heitz. He has just introduced a new label for the negociant wines – see below.

Photo: The new Armand Heitz Negociant label

Re-tasting of the 2015s at Domaine Heitz-Lochardet

The wines were tasted from bottle on March 29th 2017 – all the wines were bottled before the harvest in September 2016.

Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, Coteaux Bourguignon Pinot Noir 2015

The first of two Coteaux Bourguignon comes from a terroir located below Meursault on the other side of RN974 – a lieu-dit called “Les Belles Roses”. This is a cuvée with a normal level of SO2 – and it’s showing beautifully – very good mid-palate fruit for this level – very juicy with finely grained tannins – displaying the house style. It’s a lovely wine offering a lot of drinkability – very good value and a fine introduction to the estate.

(Drink from Now) – Good – (84 – 86p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, Coteaux Bourguignon Pinot Noir 2015

The low SO2 Coteaux Bourguignon Pinot Noir 2015 – from a lieu-dit below Pommard called “Mont Poulains” is more free and fruity as expected – not sure that I prefer this cuvée, as I currently find more focus and structure in the cuvée with a normal level of SO2. For me it’s difficult to choose – but I do appreciate both cuvées and they are both very enjoyable – wines to enjoy with no regrets and a lot of pleasure for the money. This might be a low end wine – but I still think that Armand Heitz manages to keep the house style and virtues present in these wines.

(Drink from Now) – Good – (84 – 86p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet,Pommard Premier Cru Monopole Clos des Poutures 2015

The Pommard Clos des Poutures has developed very well on bottle and is despite a slight reduction showing very well .. very forward and spicy. In the nose lovely red fruit, spiced with peony rose and cinnamon – hint of reduction adding some roasted coffée notes. On the palate fine concentration and length – it’s balanced and more generous at this stage offering some more of the hedonistic qualities found in Pommard Rugiens. A magnificent Pommard – love the whole cluster style of Heitz-Lochardet.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine++ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet,Pommard Rugiens 2015

The Pommard Rugiens is a step up in intensity and quality – a gorgeous wine in the making – and showing even better than when tasted from cask. The nose offer lovely red and darker berries – juicy and very floral – with notes of rose pethal and cinnamon – and with a nice transparent hint of the mighty Rugiens minerality. On the palate – long, intense and refined with a airy and very juicy fruit … complex with a silky mouth feel. This is a magnificent and very enjoyable Pommard – even better than the lovely 2014. What a gorgeous wine this is – Chapeau Armand!

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 95p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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The whites have gained focus since the first taste in June 2016 and now seems cooler and less affected by the warm weather in the 2015 vintage.

The key here was an early harvest and in this case the Chevalier-Montrachet was harvested on August 27th and the Meursault Perrieres was brought in on August 29th 2015. All the whites therefore have a fine balancing acidity (for the vintage) – and while they are generous they offer a very good focus and energy.

Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, Aligote 2015

The Aligote 2015 is made from 40 year old vines located below the Meursault appellation – a lieu dit called “Les Belles Roses” The Aligote is showing fine balance and a good freshness for the vintage – in the nose white and yellow orchard fruits .. a bit on the exotic side – with a citrus/grape note to freshen things up. On the palate quite rich fruit but the Aligote grape is offering a fine balancing acidity and freshness. Would love to have a few of these in the cellar.

(Drink from 2018) – Good (84 – 86p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, Meursault En la Barre 2015

The Meursault En la Barre village has really benefitted from the ageing since June 2016 when I first tasted it from barrel. The nose offer a lovely selection of white orchard fruit – now only slightly on the exotic side – vibrant and transparent with a lovely citrus infused minerality. On the palate finely balanced with a very nice fresh fruit – it’s rich but very balanced for the vintage. A truly enjoyable Meursault village in the making.   

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good (87 – 89 p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet,  Chassagne-Montrachet La Maltroye 2015

The Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroye is the cuvée that has benefited most from the elevage. The nose offer white and yellow orchard fruits – white peach and pear – still a bit exotic and with a healthy dose of citrus infused Chassagne minerality. On the palate relatively rich, but has really gained focus and definition. Lovely balance now … and first and foremost better freshness than in June 2016 when tasted from cask.

(Drink from 2023) – Fine+ (91 – 93p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, Meursault Les Perriéres 2015

The Meursault Les Perriéres is a significant leap up in quality – and has also gained focus and refinement since I tasted it from cask. The nose is bursting with white orchards fruits – acacia blossom, pear and peach – quite cool and fresh with some exotic notes and a fine citrus driven minerality. On the palate very fine intensity with a quite rich fruit and a fine balancing acidity – harvested already on August 29th. A very fine Meursault Perrieres in the making – rating is maintained.

(Drink from 2026) – Very Fine (93 – 94p) – Tasted 29/03/2017.

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Summing up …

The reds are more or less as expected – very fine indeed and just lovely. I have a soft spot for the Pommard Rugiens – a quite sexy wine from this otherwise slightly austere terroir – should be on your 2015 buying list.

The whites are fresher and more focused than expected in June last year – the relatively early harvest really seem to have preserved enough acidity to balance the rich but quite cool fruit. They are no doubt very fine efforts for the vintage, and while I prefer the 2014 vintage for the whites – the 2015s do offer balanced and enjoyable drinking.