Gevrey-Chambertin, Grands Crus
A World-Class Appellation.
This village, already known since the Romans’ time is among the most prestigious places in France to produce wines, especially from the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, renowned for its rich and diverse soils, which play a crucial role in shaping the character of its wines.
Located in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin comprises around 400 hectares of vines, with 9 grands crus and 26 premiers crus in its roster.
In this article, we will delve into the history of this appellation and the different types of soil found in the appellation, exploring their impact on the wines and the unique characteristics of each parcel.
The Origins of Gevrey: Unraveling the Mystery of a Legendary Name
One popular explanation suggests that Gevrey's name is derived from the Gallo-Roman term "gabarius," which roughly translates to "goat herder." This theory has garnered significant support among historians and linguists, and is often cited as the most plausible explanation for the village's moniker.
However, an alternative theory proposes that Gevrey's name is inextricably linked to its unique geography. According to this line of thinking, the name stems from the Old French words "gaba" or "gave," meaning "torrent" or "stream," which aptly describes the village's location at the mouth of the Combe Lavaux gorge.
In 1847, Gevrey underwent a significant transformation, adopting the suffix "Chambertin" to become Gevrey-Chambertin. This deliberate move was designed to associate the village with its renowned wine-producing region, marking a watershed moment in the history of Burgundy's wine industry. Gevrey-Chambertin was the first village in the Côte d'Or region to adopt this approach, paving the way for other villages to follow suit.
The addition of the wine-producing region's name to the village's name helped establish the concept of "appellation d'origine," which is deeply rooted in the idea of "terroir" in Burgundy's vineyards. This concept recognizes the unique characteristics of a particular region's soil, climate, and winemaking traditions, and has become a cornerstone of the wine industry.
Gevrey-Chambertin's Wine Hierarchy
In this esteemed appellation, a complex hierarchy of wines exists, each with its own unique characteristics and production methods. From the prestigious Grands Crus to the regional Bourgogne AOC, each level of the hierarchy offers a distinct taste experience.
Grands Crus (around 85 ha)
The pinnacle of Gevrey-Chambertin's wine production, the 9 Grands Crus are renowned for their exceptional quality and terroir-driven flavours. These wines are produced from the best parcels, with a unique combination of soil, and climate. The Grands Crus are situated at mid-height, where the location offers the best possible expression of the terroir, here is more information about each of them.
Le Chambertin
The soil composition of Le Chambertin is characterized by Bajocian limestone with entroques, a type of Jurassic-era rock formation, covered by a thin layer of scree and loam. The brown limestone soils are particularly well-suited for Pinot Noir cultivation. Buisson Charles makes a wonderful expression of this Grand Cru. Le Chambertin's ideal east-facing exposure ensures it receives optimal sunlight, which is especially beneficial during the gentle morning hours. The vineyard's mid-slope location also allows it to absorb water efficiently, making it an exceptional terroir. The vineyard's terrain features a subtle curvature, which helps to retain heat and create a unique microclimate. Situated on a flat plateau at an elevation of 270-280 meters, Chambertin's east-facing orientation allows it to bask in the gentle morning sun.
Chambertin-Clos-de Bèze
This Grand Cru is considered a model of terroir, situated on Jurassic outcrops, covered with a thin layer of scree, and featuring a layer of loam that perfectly complements the brown limestone soils rich in clay particles. The vineyard's east-facing exposure provides optimal sunlight, and its mid-slope location ensures good drainage. The northern winds also provide ventilation, while the vineyard is protected from western winds that bring rain. The soil composition varies across the vineyard, with white marl and limestone in the upper part, and brown limestone rich in mineral salts and calcium debris in the lower part. The subsoil is composed of Bajocian limestone with entroques. The vineyard's altitude ranges from 270 to 280 meters, and its gentle slope allows for perfect drainage.
Chapelle-Chambertin
The vineyard boasts a perfect east-facing exposure, with a gentle slope that ensures ideal natural drainage thanks to the permeable limestone scree. The soils are slightly richer than those in Griotte-Chambertin, particularly in the lower part of the vineyard. This exceptional site produces wines that are renowned for their sensuality and elegance. Chapelle-Chambertin is, along with Griotte-Chambertin, one of the most sensual wines in Burgundy. While it may have a slightly lighter body than Mazis-Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, and Le Chambertin, it makes up for it with its exquisite texture, astonishing finesse, and persistent bouquet of honeysuckle and cherry.
Charmes-Chambertin
The Charmes-Chambertin vineyard is nestled on a bed of limestone, overlaid with a thin layer of soil that is ideally suited for grape cultivation. This soil, a mix of clay, limestone, and iron-rich minerals, is remarkably thin in some areas, with a high concentration of large pebbles that can weigh up to 500 grams. The underlying rock is dense and resistant, yet fractured enough to allow the vine roots to penetrate deep into the earth, resulting in vines that can thrive for over a century, as evidenced by some plots planted as far back as 1881.
Mazis-Chambertin
The Mazis-Chambertin is situated on the same type of substrate as the Clos de Bèze, with a Bajocian limestone deep soil covered by a thin layer of scree. The soil is composed of brown earth that can reach a depth of 1.5 meters, with lava rocks present throughout. The altitude ranges from 270 to 280 meters, with an east-facing exposure. The vineyard's unique terroir is characterized by its gentle slope, which allows for perfect drainage. The soil is rich in mineral salts and calcium debris, and its composition varies across the vineyard. The upper part of the vineyard features a thin layer of loam, click here to learn how Domaine les Astrelles is making a sublime expression of the terroir, while the lower part has a thicker layer of brown limestone.
Mazoyères-Chambertin
Les Mazoyères sits atop a foundation of consolidated limestone gravel, capped with a layer of secondary limestone that forms a crust-like surface. The soils are composed of a 30- to 35-centimeter thick layer of arable earth, interspersed with gravel that lies just above the bedrock. This unique terroir is the result of the geological activity of the Combe Grisard, which has deposited a mix of soils that make the vineyard suited for viticulture.
Griotte-Chambertin
The Griotte-Chambertin vineyard is a unique, shell-shaped depression with a thin layer of soil, no more than 30 centimeters deep in some areas. The soil is poor and stony, with a reddish-brown color at the bottom and a whiter hue towards Chapelle. The underlying rock is very compact and sometimes visible on the surface, which enhances the natural sunlight and makes it particularly intense. The vineyard's geology is characterized by the presence of Bajocian rock, a friable limestone that allows for good drainage and is rich in fossils and pebbles. This unique terroir allows the vine roots to dig deep into the soil and subsoil, giving the wine a strong typicity.
Ruchottes - Chambertin
The Ruchottes-Chambertin vineyard is situated on a unique terroir, with a combination of oolithic limestone, compact rock, and cryoclastic scree. The upper part of the vineyard features a thin layer of soil, while the lower part has a more substantial layer of rock with minimal soil cover. In some areas, the rock is even visible on the surface. The vineyard's geology is comparable to that of Musigny, with a surface soil layer, a layer dating back around 15,000 years, and a deeper layer of oolithic limestone from the Bajocian era, over 50,000 years old. The vineyard's east-facing exposure and good ventilation ensure a healthy harvest. The vineyard's location at the exit of the Combe Lavaux means that the grapes ripen later than in other Grand Crus, but still with good maturity and in perfect condition.
Latricières-Chambertin
Latricières-Chambertin lies across from Les Mazoyères, and in the extension of Le Chambertin. The soils is a transition from Premeaux limestone at a quarter to a third of the way up the slope, similar to Chambertin, to rocky outcrops in the lower section, reminiscent of Chapelle-Chambertin. The subsoil is harder and more resistant than in Chambertin, with a slightly different slope and drainage pattern. The microclimate is slightly warmer, with a subtle cooling influence from the Combe Grisard. These nuanced differences impart a distinct typicity to the wines.
Learn more about our Gevrey-Chambertin producers such as Domaine Les Astrelles & Domaine Humbert
