Lucien Muzard

Nine generations of Muzards precede Claude and Hervé, who today control Domaine Lucien Muzard across 16 ha of vineyards in Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet and Pommard. The family can trace its roots back to 1645, but it was not until the two sons, Claude and Herve took over the domaine from Lucien in 1995 that it began bottling at the estate rather than selling to négociants. Today 85% of the production is red wine but the white wines are gaining in stature with several key premier cru parcels in Santenay being replanted with Chardonnay. Santenay borders Chassagne Montrachet to the north adjoining notable premier cru’s such as Morgeots, Les Embazees and Les Baudines. Clearly there is potential for white wines with much limestone apparent in a complex series of fractured geological faults where the Cote dÓr ends and turns the corner towards Maranges signalling the end of the Cote dÓr slope. Santenay contains a great variety of soil differences and vineyard expositions, the potential of which deserves discovery.

Reducing vine yields and adoption of some modern wine-making techniques has resulted in spotlessly pure, great value Burgundy in both colours. They started using small bins for harvesting, a vibrating sorting table and conveyor belts rather than pumps to keep crushing to an absolute minimum as well as acquiring a new temperature controlled fermentation facility with new wooden vats and a new precision controlled press. In 2005 they began managing the vineyard organically and ultimately gained certification for biodynamic farming in 2011. Following the incessant rains of spring 2012 however they relinquished this certification and today follow a lutte raisonée, or sustainable farming path drawing on organic and bio-dynamic principals employed in the last 2 decades.

They continue to plough their rows and shun any use of herbicides or pesticides, let alone chemical fertilizers. In the winery these days, more whole bunches are included, typically about a third, while there are no additions of yeast or enzymes. In tandem with the move to more whole-bunch, the extraction regime has moved away from punch-downs towards a gentler remontage (pump-over) approach, while elevage is moving towards both larger oak and a subtler new-oak influence. Indeed for the first time in vintage 2015, two large foudres were included in the elevage of the Maladière and since then more large foudres from 3500- 5000 litres have been added. The reds are bottled un-fined and with only a coarse filtration as required.

WINE NOTES AND REVIEWS - CURRENT VINTAGES

2023 ‘Harvest began on 5th September. The Muzards report yields of 55 hl/ha in white and 50 in red, good degrees between 12.5 and 13%, with correct acidities. Nowadays they like to use a vegetative cover crop between the rows, but in 2023 they pulled it out in July to avoid competition for water. The whites now start vinification without sulphur, barely settling the juice after pressing, then adding sulphur protection after the malolactic fermentation, which was in December. The reds are entirely destemmed, using a new CUBE machine that leaves the berries intact. The new generation are encouraging some incremental improvements to what is already a very sound source.’ Jasper Morris MW, January 2025.

‘In 2022 they have made some modifications in white vinification, adding no sulphur until after malolactic. They have purchased some 600 litre barrels for white, along with foudres for red, as bigger formats keep the carbon dioxide better, thus needing less sulphur. Mostly 350 litre barrels otherwise. The Muzards like to crush their white grapes before pressing, then start the fermentation in tank, before sending to barrel. Most whites had been racked to tank just before the new harvest. Bottles of both colours are closed with traditional corks.’ Jasper Morris MW, December 2023.

WHITES

2023 Lucien Muzard Meursault Les Meix Chavaux - due May
‘Pale lemon colour, delightful on the nose, some floral qualities, white fruit behind. There is plenty of fruit on the palate, not heavy but fine and even quite nuanced. Made with a lightness of touch and though the oak is present it is well integrated. Drink from 2027-2030. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (90-92 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

REDS - last few cases of 2022 - 2023 due May 2025

2022 Lucien Muzard Santenay rouge Champs Claude vieilles vignes - last cases
‘This is a big cuvée, from a foudre of 12 barrels dimension plus 17 actual barrels. And it is a good one! A slightly darker purple, with a beautiful bouquet, the darker side of raspberries, this is really very harmonious on the palate, still with its welcome point of acidity, juicy and racy together. Drink from 2026-2031.’ (89-92 points) Jasper Morris M.W., October 2023.

2022 Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Clos Faubard - last cases
‘Clos Faubard has a very red soil, above the hard rock. 27 barrels worth, including some in foudre. A bright medium deep purple. The nose has a firmer darker fruit. There is a generous weight of dark raspberry fruit, some tannins, but easily enough fruit to cover them. Drink from 2027-2031.’ (88-90 points) Jasper Morris M.W., October 2023.

2022 Lucien Muzard Pommard Les Cras - last cases
‘Made from 90 year old vines. Medium purple with a lighter rim. A little touch of new wood. The ripeness of the fruit and the age of the vines carries this over the structure of a Pommard, though that is still visible at the back. The energy is impressive. Thoroughly enjoyable even in the medium term. Drink from 2027-2032.’ (89-91 points) Jasper Morris M.W., October 2023

2023 Lucien Muzard Bourgogne - due May
This comes from parcels in Maranges and in Santenay, plus a one hectare parcel in the Hautes Côtes. Raised 30% in tank and 70% in barrel (15% new). Lovely volume of red fruit with a hint of slatey minerality. Always an exceptional value, in 2022 it shows both excellent depth and freshness and balance.

‘Bottled in July. Destemmed. A glowing ruby, delicious nose, fragrant cherry pinot. A few tannins to finish and a little rusticity creeps in but the cherry fruit perseveres Drink from 2025-2027. Tasted Oct 2024.’ 86 points, Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

2023 Lucien Muzard Santenay Vieilles Vignes - due May
Comes from several parcels including from Clos des Hates which is located beside one of Muzards best 1er cru sites, Clos Faubard. From 3ha of vines with an average age of 50+ years, spread over 3 parcels: one in the north near Chassagne, one in the centre near the village and one in the south which borders on to 1er cru Clos Rousseau. Hand-picked and sorted, the fruit is 60% destemmed-but-not-crushed and 40% whole bunches, wild-yeast fermented. Gently plunged for 15-20 days, then pressed to 30% new French oak barriques for 12 months maturation. Total production of this cuvee averages 750 cases per year.
‘From Les Hates and Prarons. A third of the cuvee is in a new foudre, the rest in barrel. Just a touch of whole bunch, which helps lift the nose. A bright ruby purple. There is a significant volume of fruit here, sumptuous even, not too marked by the new wood, in a different league from the Maranges. Very good. Drink from 2026-2029. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (89-92 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

2023 Lucien Muzard Santenay rouge Champs Claude vieilles vignes - due May
From vines located just below Chassagne 1er cru Morgeot. Vine age here is mostly 80+ years old. Always a wine with generosity and finesse which delivers great pleasure already.

‘One third foudre, two thirds barrel. Vibrant mid purple. A little bit less immediate, a little bit more structure a lovely slightly more austere vibrant red fruit, decent length, a different shape compared to the VV. Drink from 2027-2030. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (88-91 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

2023 Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Clos Faubard - due May
North of the Village, Clos Faubard sits up high, above Gravieres, where the slope climbs into scrubland. The soil here, has the same Bajocian marl limestone that is found in the Côte de Nuits and not found elsewhere in the Côte de Beaune, giving Faubard’s wine a distinct spicy minerality. Very red soil here, still with plenty of small stones. With so many fine premier cru sites to choose from at this estate it is this vineyard which we have consistently found to be our pick of the best representation of these sites, both for early enjoyment and for cellaring with confidence. The domaine, one of only three owners of this vineyard, has 1.47 hectares here and makes roughly 750 cases each year from vines mostly 60-70 years old. 40% whole bunch followed by 12 months elevage in 30% new barriques. Vibrant red fruit leads to a densely packed, mineral inflected palate of great purity and terrific length.
‘30% whole bunch vinification and a third in foudre. A bright mid purple. As with the white, the fruit is a little sterner, concentrated without the soft edge, and the stems are less apparent. Not so much bouquet though. Stems come out at the back, otherwise dark raspberry with a firmer finish. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (88-91 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

2023 Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Maladieres - due May
Maladière takes its name from malady, or illness. The hill of Maladière rises steeply up behind the lower village and gets bathed in sunshine, thus long ago this hillside was considered a healthy place to house the leper colony. Maladière has some of the same Côte de Nuits limestone as Faubard, contributing to the minerality that underpins the wine. This is from 4.82 hectares of 50+ year old vines here and the fruit is hand-picked, sorted, 70% destemmed but not crushed and then cold-soaked for a few days. Wild-yeast fermented and gently plunged for 12-15 days, then pressed to large foudre for 12 months maturation.
‘30% whole bunch vinification and a third in foudre. A bright mid purple. As with the white, the fruit is a little sterner, concentrated without the soft edge, and the stems are less apparent. Not so much bouquet though. Stems come out at the back, otherwise dark raspberry with a firmer finish. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (88-91 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.

2023 Lucien Muzard Pommard Les Cras - due May
Les Cras comes from the word ‘craie’ which translates as lime and is a relatively low-lying vineyard towards the border with Volnay. From a small 0.5 ha parcel of low-yielding vines planted in 1922, Les Cras produces wines with a densely concentrated palate, marked by sweet blueberry and plum fruit, fine yet powerful tannins and a long minerally finish.
‘Vinified in tronconic and then aged in barrels. Medium deep crimson. An attractive red fruit bouquet. Suggests a bit of the firmness of Pommard on the nose, but there is easily enough red fruit to cover the bones. Still a final tannin or two but there is fine density to this and a good long finish. Drink from 2028-2033. Tasted Oct 2024.’ (89-92 points) Jasper Morris M.W., January 2025.