Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Chambolle Musigny Les Cras 2020

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet is a true Chambolle-Musigny producer with cellars in the town as well as holdings entirely within the appellation. The domaine was created in 1981 by Joël Hudelot (inherited largely from his father Paul) and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law Dominique Le Guen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998. The viticultural philosophy is basically organic though the domaine is not technically certified. There are no insecticides used and sexual confusion is employed instead to combat problematic bugs. The harvest is performed manually with sorting work done in the vineyards and again at the cuverie if necessary. The fruit is 100% destemmed, and the new oak program averages 30% for the villages wines, 40% for the 1ers and 50% for the Bonnes Mares. The wines are given 12 to 18 months of élevage before being bottled, generally without fining or filtration. Hudelot describes his intended style as one of finesse, succinctly explaining that "all of my appellations are in Chambolle and finesse is what we do best."

This Premier Cru is made from vines planted in 1987, from a .37 ha holding that produced yields of only 17 hl/ha. This superstar vineyard is known from illustrious domaines such as Georges Roumier and  Méo-Camuzet. Acquiring this beautiful and very well-priced Les Cras is a real coup. There is so much ripeness, roundness and charm in this smooth, fleshy, silky wine with 3-7 years of aging depending upon the vintage.