Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques 1er Cru 2020
The Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques 1er Cru 2020 is a wine of immense complexity and depth, representing the very best of Burgundy's winemaking tradition. This wine is crafted with meticulous attention to detail by the skilled winemakers at Domaine Faiveley. Based in Nuits-St-Georges, the famous Domaine Faiveley was founded in 1825 and in more recent times, the domaine has greatly expanded its vineyards across the entire Côte d’Or. The grapes are entirely de-stemmed and fermented in a mix of new wooden vats for the top end wines and stainless steel for the lesser cuvées. Once notorious for being fairly austere, there has been less emphasis on extraction over the last ten years and the wines show increased freshness, purity of fruit and more judicious use of oak. A contender for one of the most improved domaines in Burgundy over the last decade.
The parcel where this pinot is from, is situated in the northern part of the village just before the valley. Along with "Les Cazetiers" and "Clos Saint-Jacques", this climat is considered to be one of the 3 best Premiers Crus in Gevrey. The Domaine purchased this parcel in late 2013.
2020 is a solar vintage yet the wines show a lot of freshness. The yields are low but the quality is excellent with a perfect degree of ripeness. Domaine Faiveley's Côte de Nuits wines have a beautiful typicity: they are concentrated, floral and fresh with all the finesse of their grape variety. The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand from the clay soils of this region however the proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. The wines are punched down daily in order to extract colour, tannins and aromas from the skin of the grapes. After undergoing a 19 day vatting period, the alcoholic fermentation is complete. The free-run wine is run off using a gravity system whilst the marc is pressed slowly and gently in order to extract an exceptionally pure press wine. The wine is then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels (40-50% new oak and 50-60% one-wine barrels) which have been selected for their fine grain and moderate toast. Finally the wine is left to age in cellars at consistent, natural hygrometry and temperature.
This wine is a deep ruby red colour that unfurls to reveal an attractive nose of intense aromas of small black fruits and dark berries. There are also subtle earthy notes of forest floor, truffles, and a touch of smokiness that add depth and complexity to the wine. A powerful, warm and concentrated wine with exceptional aromatic intensity with elegant tannins and a touch of leather that lingers on the finish. On the palate, the Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques 1er Cru 2020 is full-bodied and well-structured, with a firm tannic backbone that is beautifully balanced by the wine's rich fruit flavors. It is medium to full-bodied, layered and complete, with terrific concentration, lively acids and refined tannins. Drink now or will age gracefully with careful cellaring until 2040.
Shows a lot of finesse and elegance, with a bright cherry fruit, abundant floral notes and enough freshness to carry it through to a rewarding conclusion. The house owns nearly one hectare in Lavaux St-Jacques. In 2020, the fruit was picked at 13.5% and fermented with a good proportion of whole clusters before being run into cask (38% new) for ageing. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040. - Decanter, 95 Points
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%