Vanessa

9.2

Here’s to exploring Fixin AOC, the northernmost appellation of the Côte de Nuits in the Côte d’Or of Burgundy!

Fixin is home to 6 premier cru climats including Clos Napoléon. It’s primarily known for its Pinot Noir (approx. 96%) but also produces Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc.

Fixin rouge wines are sometimes compared to its neighbor to the south, Gevrey Chambertin AOC, but with a lighter body and profile. It can be a great source of value in an increasingly expensive region.

Tonight, we’re enjoying the 2019 Pierre Gelin Fixin rouge 1er Cru Clos Napoléon.

Clos Napoléon is also a monopole, owned exclusively by Domaine Pierre Gelin today. It’s a small but prestigious vineyard, situated on a hillside slope, with old vines dating back 70 years!

This property used to be owned by Claude Noisot, the surgeon to Emperor Napoléon, and the vineyard was formerly called “Aux Cheuzots.”

Claude Noisot renamed the property “Clos Napoléon” in honor of his famous patient and hired a renowned sculptor to create "Le Réveil de (the awakening of) Napoléon” – a nearby statue, featured on this label.

As for this particular wine, it’s beautiful! It’s medium ruby in color. Its bouquet is perfumed and layered with notes of black cherry, mulberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, red plum, fennel seed, fennel fronds, chervil, licorice, clove, cooked morel mushroom, wet earth, vanilla, and saddle leather. The palate is lively with bright acidity and smooth, polished tannins. The alcohol has a delicate warming presence and the finish lingers. — 5 months ago

with Deked1

Sean Driscoll

9.3

Such a ridiculous value every year. Not just a value, but a beautiful wine. Literally surrounded by Gevrey-Chambertin appellation vineyards, Le Grands Champs sure screams GC - dark fruit and earth.

The nose opens with dark cherry, raspberry, plum, herbs (thyme?), baking spice, and earthy damp PNW forest notes. On the palate, more of the same with good concentration, tannins, surprising minerality and solid acid. — 3 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

2001 vintage. Medium ruby hue. On the nose, round and plush, with a slight roasted coffee bean aroma. Dark berry fruit profile. On the palette, medium acidity and body, medium concentration and medium plus finish. Not the umph of a typical wine from this appellation - more refined. Very enjoyable. Drink now - probably wouldn't hold more than 5 years. — 8 years ago

Russ Kujan

9.3

2019 vintage. Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Grand Vins de Bourgogne. This is an appellation wine from a thin, sloped strip of land called the Cote de D’or then you travel to a hillside in the Joseph Drouhin vineyard for Gevrey-Chambertin. This is a delicious wine. It’s designated as an intro wine from the region — appellation. The pinot noir vineyards in Burgundy trace back to medieval times. Button mushroom and spice on the nose. A light, Balanced, silky, long finish, cherry, Pomegranate, a bit of potting soil moderate acidity that is balanced with low tannins. Get a case. If this is classified as an appellation wine from producer Joseph Drouhin, I can’t wait to try a Villages and Crus. — a year ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Finally tried Kuheiji’s Burgundy project (NB: their efforts in France yielded one of my most memorable sakés in 2019 - the Camargue; notes on Delectable). This was quite the changeling - started off reductive with a red-fruited palate, light airy touch, juicy acidity, and no noticeable oak. Combined with the hint of fruit sweetness in the back end, I just shot straight for Beaujolais in my blinded guess. Should have waited as my mistake became quite apparent over dinner. With air, the wine took on a darker/black fruit profile and showed obvious signs of oak treatment, though well-integrated. It was all blackcurrants, plums, raspberries, cinnamon, dark chocolate, cedar, and a hint of earthiness/minerality (appellation?). The palate remained airy and juicy, with that fruit sweetness in the finish perhaps indicative of the warm vintage. I enjoyed this as it had energy, though DC found the wine a little too oaky for his liking and KK noted some bottle variation with this being a weaker pull. — 3 years ago

Joakim Bogström

9.0

So much Gevrey-Chambertin even though the appellation says othervise. Big, bold and dark. W/ lots of finesse. Dark plums mixer w/ smoked meats and horseradish. A ray of freshly paicked raspberries runs right thru as a little overweight midnight train. Such Power.
A tad high in alcohol. Great structure of tannins and body. — 7 years ago

Victor Hwang

9.2

2005 vintage. I thought this would crush the Kosta appellation blend but I also think we lacked proper stemware. Wet towel and some strawberry on the nose. But the mouthful and finish were very pretty. Curious to try this again with proper burgundy glasses. — 8 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

The Côte de Nuits – situated in the Côte d’Or region of Burgundy, France – is best known for its Pinot Noir 🍇wines hailing from famous villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, etc., in which some of Burgundy’s most renowned grands and premiers cru vineyards are located such as La Tâche and Romanée-Conti … 🍷🍷

Yet the Côte de Nuits produces a small amount of white and rosé wine, too!

In fact, the appellation of Marsannay (a northerly neighbor to Gevrey-Chambertin AOC) is the only village level AOC permitting production of not only red and white wine, but rosé wine, as well; it’s gaining recognition for its ability to deliver excellent quality wine for the price (QPR)! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Here we have a Marsannay made with Chardonnay from the “Les Longeroies” vineyard 🌱, located on a gentle, southeast-facing slope ☀️ with cooling influences from the prevailing winds. 🌬️

It’s a pale gold wine with developing notes of yellow apple, pear, white nectarine, lemon curd, honeysuckle, blossom, chamomile, wet slate, delicate butterscotch, cream, brioche, honey, and crushed hazelnut.

It has a creamy texture and rounded mouthfeel, balanced and lifted by the pleasant acidity and primary fruit notes.

Domaine Régis Bouvier Marsannay Les Longeroies (2017) ABV 13%

Cheers to exploring the beauty of Burgundy!! 🥂🥂
— 2 years ago

with Deked1

Byron Hewett

9.3

Lovely Charmes-Chambertin from one the best spots in the appellation. — 7 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

Really nice bats over it’s Village appellation - Sauvage under growth cherry fruit subtle spice — 8 years ago