Jean Chauvenet > Burgundy

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Domaine Jean Chauvenet crafts concentrated, lushly textured – and delicious -- Nuits St. Georges wines. The Chauvenet family traces its roots as vignerons in Nuits St. Georges back to 1680. Jean Chauvenet expanded the family holdings to include several 1er Cru vineyard plots while also increasing the amount of wine that was bottled at the domaine instead of being sold to negociants. Jean retired in 1994 and Christophe Drag, his son-in-law, assumed the management of the domain.

The estate owns 9.5 hectares of vineyards across the Nuits St. Georges appellation. About 75% of the vines are Nuits “villages” while the balance consists of select parcels in the finest 1er Cru vineyards sites. The vines average 45 years of age and are planted in the traditional high density of 10,000 vines per hectare. Soils on the northern, Vosne side of the appellation (Damodes, Bousselots), are primarily pebbles and limestone with a little clay. Soils in the southern sector (Rue de Chaux, Vaucrains) are deeper, brown limestone. Drag plants grass between the rows of vines for two reasons: they create a natural competition for water on the surface, thus forcing the vine roots to search deeper in the soil for water and nutrients, keeping the grapes small and concentrated. Further, the grasses also absorb a great deal of surface water that naturally reduces the threat of rot in humid years. Yields average 35hl/ha. Drag prunes severely to restrict the number of bunches to between 6 and 8 per vine, thereby avoiding the need to do a major green harvest. Further, Drag trains his vines in the Guyot Longue fashion, so as to ensure better aeration and ripening (and lessening the need for treatments.) Harvest is carried out entirely by hand by a team of 40 pickers and lasts one week. The grapes are hand-selected in the vineyards before being transported to the winery.

Christophe Drag destems all the fruit and begins vinification with a four day, pre-fermentation cold maceration, at 10 degree Centigrade (the level at which the yeasts remain inactive.) He believes that this "cold soak" captures the Pinot Noir’s aromas and flavors and gives silkier tannins. Fermentation begins in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with a 3-4 week maceration period. Drag carries out 2 pigeages per day to ensure the maximum extraction of color and flavor. The wines are aged for 18 to 20 months in barrels, of which 15% (for the Nuits AC) and 20-25% (for the 1ers Crus) are new. Drag prefers a very slow malolactic fermentation because it diminishes the wine’s SO2 level while enhancing freshness and purity of flavor. He racks the wines off their lees and then assembles the cuvees in tank for one month before bottling without fining or filtration in April or May.

Nuits-St-Georges

The Nuits St Georges AOC derives from 5 parcels of vines in the northern part of the appellation that give more generous wines. The parcels (Saint Jacques, Les Allots, Les Lavieres, Les Charmottes, and Les Athees) are located at the base of the slope, where the soils are richest and warmest. The vines average 40 years of age. Wine Spectator captures its essence: “Terrific expression. Rich, wild berry and black fruit aromas and flavors get texture from the dense tannins. Yet it all remains fresh and delineated, with mineral and earth notes on the long, energetic finish.”

Nuits-St-Georges Rue de Chaux 1er Cru

The Nuits St Geroges 1er Cru Rue de Chaux climat is located just south of the town of Nuits, in the middle section of the appellation. It is the first 1er Cru climat in the band of 1er Crus south of Nuits. Here the Domaine Chauvenet owns about ¼ of a hectare of vines that are 70 years of age. The warm soil and old vines gives a sumptuous wine, with rich black cherry and berry fruit. Wine Spectator acclaims its “gorgeous black cherry and black currant fruit flavors are shaded by iron and mineral elements. Lively with firm tannins and intensity that builds through the long, mineral-infused aftertaste.

Nuits St Georges - Les Bousselots 1er Cru

Domaine Chauvenet owns one half a hectare of 33 year old vines in the Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Bousselots. This vineyard is located on the north side of the village of Nuits on a soil made up of limestone, sand, pebbles and fossilized oysters. It has intense, very expressive black-cherry, cassis fruit and an expansive bouquet, underpinned by the minerality of the terroir. Wine Spectator (WS Insider, 10/15/08) rates the 2006 vintage Bousselots 92 points and describes it as “well-oaked and concentrated, this assertive red has a core of raspberry, cherry, iron and earth flavors.”

Nuits St Georges - Vaucrains 1er Cru

Possibly the Domaine’s top wine, the Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Vaucrains, is located in the southern part of the appellation that is acknowledged to have its best climat, on the Premeaux border. This is because of the ripeness and intensity of the wines. The deep soil is an even blend of limestone and clay mixed with rocks.

Chauvenet’s Vaucrains, made from 42 year old vines, is a massive wine, combining power, profundity and deeply layered-fruit.

Between 150 and 200 case are produced annually. Wine Spectator described the 2006 Vaucrains (91 points) as “well-muscled and compact, this displays a core of concentrated blackberry and black cherry notes, accented by earth and mineral….Needs time.” Indeed, Vaucrains is universally considered to be the slowest to evolve but the most rewarding – “..oh, so majestic when mature” is Serene Sutcliffe’s phrase -- of the Nuits Premier Crus.