A treat at this price, but it’s still a good price for Burgundy, where the wines unfortunately reach stratospheric prices. Domaine Billard offers us here a very beautiful pinot noir, all in subtlety.
Very pale in color, it offers delicate aromas of undergrowth, rose and peony, cherry and cranberry. Lighter and fresher than the 2020, it is nevertheless suave and harmonious, with the silky texture and airy grace of a racy Pinot.
Light, very fine tannins bring just the right amount of roughness. Its delicate fragrance opens up over time; it will benefit from a carafe passage of at least an hour.
To be served slightly chilled with roast poultry, sweetbreads, a beet or mushroom risotto, a fillet of salmon in the oven.
Domaine Billard Père et Fils Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2021, $30.25 (13239862), 13.3%
Aging: 2 or 3 years