Coquard Loison Fleurot Echezeaux Grand Cru 2020

Domaine Coquard Loison Fleurot is a family estate based in Flagey-Échezeaux — the very village that lends its name to this Grand Cru. Founded across several generations and comprising 9 hectares spread over 12 appellations including 6 Grands Crus, the domaine underwent a decisive transformation when winemaker Thomas Colladot joined in 2010. A contemporary and close friend of Sébastien Cathiard, Colladot shares a similar winemaking philosophy: deep respect for terroir, minimal intervention, and an unwavering focus on fruit purity and site expression.

The commercial direction is led by Claire Fleurot. All vines are estate-owned — no bought-in fruit — with most parcels planted in the 1950s and farmed on largely organic principles. Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered after 15 to 18 months in barrel.

Terroir & Vinification

The CLF Échezeaux parcel sits in the northern sector of Flagey-Échezeaux, on the clay-limestone soils that give this Grand Cru its characteristic combination of depth and elegance. The vines are approximately 70 years old, planted near the lower part of the vineyard where a greater clay presence adds weight and an earthy, dark-fruited complexity to the wine.

Harvest is entirely manual. Thomas Colladot employs a cold pre-fermentation soak of around 9 days, followed by a fermentation of 20 to 24 days. Whole bunches are incorporated selectively depending on the vintage, and new oak is used with restraint — typically 30 to 50% for Échezeaux — preserving the terroir’s natural voice. The wine is aged 15 to 18 months in barrel before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2020 vintage across the Côte de Nuits delivered generous, concentrated fruit with excellent natural acidity and a vibrant energy that sets it apart from the denser 2018s — the CLF 2020s in particular were described as a step up, producing wines of stunning beauty and balance.

Tasting Notes

Eye: Deep, dense crimson-purple with garnet reflections — intense and luminous.

Nose: Coulis-like aromas of black raspberry and poached plum, interwoven with pressed rose petal, violet and a delicate earthy sous-bois note. With air, hints of spice, dark cherry and a cool mineral depth begin to emerge.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, with supple yet present tannins and a palate-coating richness that stops well short of heaviness. The old vines deliver a velvety texture and a remarkable inner-mouth perfume — at once generous and precise. The finish is long, mineral and tightly woven, with a cool, chiselled quality that signals serious ageing potential.

Food Pairing

A Grand Cru that demands the finest table: roasted Bresse pigeon, rack of venison with truffle jus, braised wagyu short rib, or a perfectly aged Comté. At the Asian table, a superb companion to Peking duck, red-braised pork belly, or Cantonese clay-pot duck.

Échezeaux at its most seductive — old vines, great terroir, and a winemaker at the very height of his powers. One of Burgundy’s most compelling Grand Cru values.