Antoine
LienhardtCôte de Nuits Villages
4th generation biodynamic vigneron making "emotional wines" from 60-80 year old vines. Zero sulfur during vinification, experimental amphorae, and relentless energy.
From family garden to Grand Cru ambition
Antoine Lienhardt was destined to work with the earth. As a child, he begged his grandmother for a section of her garden to tend his own plants and vegetables, loving every stage from seed to harvest. He eagerly awaited inheriting the Comblanchien vines planted by his grandfather Maurice in the 1960s [^85^][^87^].
In 2011, Antoine took over the 4.2 hectares of family vineyards that had been leased out since his grandfather's retirement in 1992, becoming the first in his family to estate bottle. Prior to this, he cut his teeth working four years at Domaine Amiot-Servelle in Chambolle-Musigny, with shorter stints in Chablis and South Africa [^85^][^87^].
His sister Héloïse joined in 2017 to handle administration and business, forming a dynamic duo. Together they work alongside close friend Julien Labet (of Jura fame), regularly sharing knowledge on viticulture and winemaking [^85^][^110^].
— Antoine Lienhardt
Antoine
Vigneron & WinemakerThe hands-on force in vineyard and cellar. Dynamic, restless, and fizzing with energy. Known for his sense of humor and experimental courage—constantly evolving techniques while maintaining "relaxed effortlessness" [^82^].
Héloïse
Administration & BusinessJoined 2017 to manage the business side. Quick-witted and essential to the domaine's operations, allowing Antoine to focus on his craft [^85^][^86^].
Grand Cru care in the Côte de Nuits Villages
Antoine is convinced that Comblanchien terroirs are hugely undervalued. Geologically, the village runs directly into Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale at its northern end, sharing the same narrow hillside band facing east, backed by steep limestone scarp [^85^].
His conviction: if Burgundy's hierarchy were reclassified, Comblanchien's choicest sectors would undoubtedly achieve Premier Cru (if not Grand Cru) status. The proof is in his wines—60-80 year old vines planted by his grandfather, now producing wines of "drive, energy and class" that command immediate attention [^87^].
Farming is certified biodynamic (Biodyvin) since 2019, with regenerative practices: planting trees, diversifying cover crops, raising trellising from 1m to 1.80m (installing 4,000+ acacia posts), and using horse plowing to minimize soil compaction [^85^][^86^].
- 100% whole bunch
- Zero sulfur during vinification
- Short macerations (5-10 days)
- Experimental amphorae (clay & concrete)
- Stockinger barrels (400L)
- Bottled early for purity
The Style
Winehog describes the Lienhardt style as: "Hedonistic... a relaxed effortlessness and the willingness and urge to experiment and challenge conventions and methods." [^82^]
Fruit-driven & delicate
With an effortless feel and free spirit
Emotional wines
Not "points wines"—made to move you
Expressive & expansive
Letting the vintage assert itself
Comblanchien's hidden Premier Cru sites
Antoine's original two lieux-dits—Les Essards and Les Plantes Aux Bois—have just 30-40cm of topsoil before passing directly into limestone mother rock, identical to top Cru vineyards in the Côte de Nuits [^87^].
Les Plantes Aux Bois
Antoine's finest single vineyard—his largest parcel planted north-south in a prime location on gentle 20% east-facing slopes. Shallow topsoil, deep limestone below. 50-70 year old vines. Red-fruited, floral, with "fierce saline minerality" [^85^][^100^].
~2.5 ha | 250-300m altitudeLes Essards
Lovely fruit concentration with beautiful balance. Quieter and more nuanced than Plantes Aux Bois—darker fruit with mineral undertones. Classic Comblanchien limestone expression [^87^][^104^].
Clay-limestone marls | 60-80yo vinesAux Vignottes
Located directly across from Mugnier's Nuits-St-Georges Clos de la Maréchale. Deeper clay, less stony than its Côte de Nuits Villages brethren. More fruit-driven but with structure reminiscent of its noble neighbor [^85^][^102^].
Deeper clay soils | Adjacent to 1er CruLabel Color Code
White Background
Wines from estate-owned vines (Domaine). These come from Antoine's grandfather's old plots in Comblanchien.
Black Background
Wines from purchased organic grapes (Négoce). Includes prestigious sites like Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey.
From Emphase to Gamayoptère
All wines see 100% whole cluster, are vinified without sulfur, and bottled early (8-12 months) to preserve purity and exuberance. Only ~10mg/L SO2 added at bottling when necessary. Decant young wines to unlock their energy [^85^].
Emphase
Côte de Nuits VillagesAntoine's top wine—an expressive, expansive blend of all seven Comblanchien terroirs (principally Plantes au Bois, Essards, and Aux Vignottes) from 70-85 year old vines. Harmonious and emotional, with gorgeous sour cherry, floral potpourri notes, and "real energy and power" [^82^][^83^].
1/3 cement egg, 2/3 old barrels
12.5% alcohol
~10 mg/L SO2 at bottling
Les Plantes Aux Bois
Côte de Nuits VillagesAntoine's largest parcel from vines planted in the late 1960s. Deep and lively, delicate and elegant—"hedonism and detail" in perfect balance. Tart red fruit (redcurrant, blackberry, tart cherry), spring peonies, autumn leaves, and fierce saline minerality [^85^][^100^].
North-south orientation
10 months élevage
13.5% alcohol
Les Essards
Côte de Nuits VillagesDarker and more mineral than Plantes Aux Bois, with lovely fruit concentration and beautiful balance. Quieter and more nuanced—"lovely fruit concentration and beautiful balance" with a brooding, earthy core [^87^][^104^].
Clay-limestone marls
Old barrels only
Dark fruit profile
Aux Vignottes
Côte de Nuits VillagesPerhaps superior to the others—deeper and more finely detailed with air. Located across from Clos de la Maréchale, sharing that noble structure. More fruit-forward but with serious mineral backbone. "Quite some hedonistic joy here" [^82^][^91^].
Adjacent to NSG 1er Cru
60-80yo vines
Supple, ripe tannins
Gamayoptère
Coteaux Bourguignons (Fixin)Named after "Pierrot" the grower in Fixin. Organically farmed Gamay from the north of the Côte de Nuits. Vinified whole cluster with 7 days semi-carbonic maceration, then aged in amphorae. Fruity, fresh, intense, pure, and fluid [^87^][^96^][^97^].
7 day semi-carbonic
Amphora & used oak
7 months élevage
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey
Premier CruFrom organically certified old vines in this excellent 1er Cru. Fine gravelly soil overlying oolitic limestone. Racy and dynamic with wild berries, spice, peonies, and fine depth. A single barrel production, one-off basis [^85^].
100% whole bunch
13% alcohol
Black label (négoce)
Also in the Range
Bourgogne Aligoté — Electric, mineral-driven, almost tonic in nature
Bourgogne Blanc — Endlessly delicious with purity and freshness
Bourgogne Rouge — Entry-level with Grand Cru care
Experimental cuvées — Constantly evolving amphorae and blending experiments