Didier Fornerol Cote de Nuits Villages 2021

When Didier Fornerol left a great job as vineyard manager and then cellar master for the famed Domaine de l’Arlot to return to his family’s humble estate in Corgoloin his peers were likely a bit surprised. But 20 years later Didier’s wines have accumulated a cult-like following and are easily among the most sought after in the undervalued Cotes de Nuits appellation.The Fornerol vineyards and cellar exist in a sort of “no-man's land” of the famed Cote d’Or, just below Premeaux-Prissy and Nuits-St-Georges and just north of the hill of Corton. There are no 1er or Grand crus here, indeed there is not even a village AOC. But within the humble Cotes de Nuits appellation Didier works his magic.Like his mentor at l’Arlot, Jean-Pierre de Smet, Didier uses a high percentage of whole clusters and ferments and ages only in oak barrels. However he uses very small amounts of new barrique (usually around 10-20%) and is generally considered to have a very light touch in the cellar.He farms the family