AOC Gevrey-Chambertin

The Gevrey-Chambertin AOC is certainly among the most iconic appellations in all of Burgundy. Located in the Côte de Nuits, it covers over 400 hectares and produces exclusively red wines made from the Pinot Noir grape variety. The clay-limestone soils, predominantly clay, give the wines a marked structure and recognized power. These wines often benefit from being aged to fully reveal their complete aromatic complexity. There are also 26 “Premier Cru” classified climats (about 80 hectares), and 9 Grands Crus present in the village.

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History and origin of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation

The presence of vines in the current territory of Gevrey-Chambertin dates back to Antiquity and the Gallo-Roman period. The Romans, pioneers of viticulture in Gaul, then planted vines along the main roads and on well-exposed hillsides. Archaeological remains attest to a structured agricultural activity from this period. The vine was then mainly intended for local and regional consumption. Nevertheless, the foundations of the Burgundy vineyard were laid.

In the Middle Ages, the Benedictine and Cistercian monks, notably those from the Abbey of Bèze and Cîteaux, played a fundamental role in the organization of the vineyard. They observed, delimited, and rigorously exploited the best plots, thus laying the foundations for what would later become the concept of "climat". As early as the 13th century, the locality Chambertin acquired an exceptional reputation and the wines of Gevrey were sought after by the Dukes of Burgundy, and later by European royal courts. At that time, Pinot Noir gradually established itself as the dominant grape variety.

From the Renaissance onwards, the reputation of Gevrey-Chambertin wines was firmly established and the Chambertin climat became emblematic, to the point that Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have made it one of his favorite wines. Viticulture improved, trade exchanges developed, and certain plots were recognized as superior to others. 

In 1847, the addition of the "Chambertin" particle completed the name of the village of Gevrey, thus reflecting the importance of this climat. The 19th century was nevertheless a period of turmoil. Like the rest of the French vineyards, Gevrey-Chambertin was indeed struck by numerous crises : powdery mildew, downy mildew, and then phylloxera. The vineyard is largely destroyed and must be entirely replanted on American rootstocks. However, this period leads to a thorough reflection on cultivation practices, and Pinot Noir is then definitively confirmed as the key grape variety of the appellation. 

Then, in 1936, the official recognition of the Gevrey-Chambertin Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée takes place. This provides a precise delimitation of the vineyard and classifies several climats as “Premier Cru” while 9 are defined as “Grand Cru”.

Today, Gevrey-Chambertin is regarded as one of the finest appellations of the Côte de Nuits and all of Burgundy. Its red wines combine depth, tannic density, and long aging potential.

 

Terroir of the Gevrey-Chambertin AOC

The terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin is mainly based on clay-limestone soils, with a proportion of clay often higher than in neighboring appellations. This richness in clay largely explains the structure, tannic density, and aging potential of the wines

The Gevrey-Chambertin vineyard is read vertically, from the top to the bottom of the slope, each area offering a distinct expression. The upper slopes are often composed of very limestone and shallow soils, producing more taut wines, sometimes austere in their youth. The mid-slopes are the most sought-after areas, combining drainage, sunlight, and soil-vine balance.This is where the majority of the Premiers Crus and Grands Crus are concentrated. Finally, the lower slopes are generally richer and more clayey, producing fleshy wines that are accessible at a younger age but sometimes less precise.

Gevrey-Chambertin also benefits from a continental climate, characterized by cold winters and hot summers, allowing the vine and its grapes to develop a rich and varied aromatic palette in the wines. 

All of these elements give Gevrey-Chambertin wines their unique personality. The terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin is one of the most complete and readable in Burgundy. It produces wines with a distinctive personality, where power never excludes precision.

 

The wines of Gevrey-Chambertin: one appellation, several styles

Gevrey-Chambertin is one of the most emblematic appellations of the Côte de Nuits and Burgundy. Produced exclusively from Pinot Noir, its wines are renowned for their structure, their depth and their aging potential, while offering a great diversity of styles depending on the terroirs, climates, and winemaking choices. Gevrey-Chambertin is not a monolithic wine: it is an appellation with many faces.

The traditional style of Gevrey-Chambertin is characterized by powerful wines, structured and serious, sometimes marked in their youth by a certain restraint. It features aromas of dark fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry), accompanied by spicy notes (pepper, licorice), and sometimes leather and undergrowth as it evolves. The tannins are present, structuring, and the finish is long. This style is made for aging, with wines that gain in complexity after several years in the cellar.

Nevertheless, another style exists. Certain plots, particularly those located on more limestone soils or at the top of the slope, indeed give rise to more slender and precise wines. These Gevrey-Chambertins then favor freshness, tension, and a more aerial expression of Pinot Noir. The aromas here lean more towards red fruits, dried flowers, sometimes with a spicy touch.Clearly the style of wines from the Marchand-Grillot estate


The Premier Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin

The 26 climates classified as Premier Cru of the AOC illustrate all the diversity of Gevrey-Chambertin, between power, finesse, and complexity. Here is an overview of the most renowned among them.

  • Clos Saint-Jacques : often considered the best Premier Cru of the appellation, it combines depth, power, and great finesse, with remarkable length on the palate and exceptional aging potential.
  • Aux Combottes : clay is more present here. This Premier Cru produces expressive and generous wines, appealing for their aromatic intensity.
  • Combe aux Moines : this climat is based on predominantly fine limestone soils. Its wines regularly develop notes of red fruits and a beautiful tension on the palate.
  • La Perrière : renowned for its consistency, it produces balanced, elegant, and harmonious wines with a refined texture.
  • Les Cazetiers : with very calcareous and shallow soils, this Premier Cru embodies the typicity of Gevrey-Chambertin, with deep aromas and a pronounced structure.
  • Les Corbeaux : robust and full-bodied, this climat produces characterful wines with great aging potential.
  • Champonnet : Premier cru usually producing supple and fruity red wines, accessible in their youth but nevertheless retaining real depth and beautiful persistence.

 

The Grands Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin

The village of Gevrey-Chambertin stands out for the exceptional presence of 9 Grands Crus, a record in Burgundy. These exceptional terroirs embody the power, depth, and complexity of the Côte de Nuits. They give rise to wines of great stature, capable of aging for several decades. Here is their presentation.

  • Chambertin : the most emblematic and prestigious, both powerful and majestic.It offers wines of exceptional depth and with extraordinary aging potential.
  • Mazis-Chambertin : more austere and strict than Chambertin. Marked firm structure, sometimes a bit austere when young, but impressive after long aging.
  • Mazoyères-Chambertin : similar in spirit to Mazis, but generally a bit fuller and more expressive. Lots of substance, real density with beautiful power.
  • Chambertin-Clos de Bèze : often considered the most harmonious. Less massive than Chambertin, but more refined and with great capacity to evolve. 
  • Charmes-Chambertin : more accessible in their youth, the red wines here are more supple and generous, while still retaining all the depth and structure typical of Gevrey-Chambertin.
  • Griotte-Chambertin : the most delicate and one of the rarest. Generally less volume on the palate, but a lot of finesse. This is a Grand Cru of detail and precision rather than power.
  • Latricières-Chambertin : elegant and balanced, it combines controlled power, freshness, and aromatic precision.
  • Ruchottes-Chambertin : one of the rarest, with an airy and taut style, fine and delicate, offering remarkable freshness as well as great elegance. 
  • Clos de la Roche : powerful and complex, this unique terroir develops aromas of cherry, plum, and spices, with a structure ideal for long aging.

 

The best pairings with Gevrey-Chambertin wine

The red wines of Gevrey-Chambertin are distinguished by their structure, density, and depth. To fully appreciate them, it is therefore essential to pair them with dishes capable of supporting this intensity without overpowering it.

  • Gevrey-Chambertin village : ideal with roasted meats, firm poultry, cuts of beef, or simple yet flavorful dishes.
  • Premiers Crus : their complexity and structure call for more elaborate dishes, such as meats in sauce, game birds, or traditional Burgundy recipes.
  • Grands Crus : powerful and deep, they are fully expressed with noble and intense dishes, such as game, slow-cooked meats, or gourmet dishes with strong character.

To enhance the wines of Gevrey-Chambertin, it is recommended to serve them between 16 and 18°C. Young cuvées, especially Premiers Crus and Grands Crus, benefit from decanting to soften their tannic structure and encourage the wine to open up.


Properly store your Gevrey-Chambertin wine

The storage of red wine from the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation requires special attention. Ideally, it should be kept in a cellar at a stable temperature, protected from direct light and excessive humidity, in order to ensure proper preservation.

Bottles from Premier Crus and Grand Crus can often be stored for several decades, gaining aromatic complexity over time. Their evolution allows you to fully discover the fruit, spice, and undergrowth notes characteristic of Côte-de-Nuits wines. Even a "villages" wine can benefit from proper storage, gradually revealing the finesse and structure of the Gevrey vineyards.

For Burgundy enthusiasts, following the evolution of wine over time is a pleasure in itself, allowing one to admire the expertise of an estate and the quality of vineyard management. Compared to regions or appellations such as Chablis, Alsace, or the Loire, Gevrey-Chambertin wine stands out for its power and its ability to improve with age.

Finally, it is also recommended to store your bottles lying horizontally so that the cork remains in contact with the liquid. You can also note the dates of your tastings to regularly assess the evolution of the wine, in order to enjoy each bottle at the ideal moment. With these precautions, your bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin wine, whether it comes from a historic estate or a more recent vineyard, will reveal all the richness and elegance of this prestigious appellation.

 

The emblematic estates of the Gevrey-Chambertin AOC

The Gevrey-Chambertin appellation owes much of its reputation to the quality and diversity of its wine estates. Each estate and each family interprets the Gevrey vineyard according to its own philosophy. The cultivation practices in the vineyard and the winemaking choices may vary, thus offering a plural reading of Pinot Noir in the Côte de Nuits. This richness helps make Gevrey-Chambertin a benchmark appellation in Burgundy.

Among the most emblematic estates is the Armand Rousseau estate, a true icon of Gevrey-Chambertin. Its wines are sought after for their remarkable balance between power, finesse, and longevity. The cuvées from the Grands Crus, such as Chambertin or Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, are among the most prestigious and coveted in all of Burgundy.

The Trapet Père et Fils estate is also an essential reference. Committed for many years to environmentally friendly viticulture, often biodynamic, it offers wines of great purity, precision, and deeply marked by their terroir. The Gevrey-Chambertin wines from the Trapet estate stand out for their freshness, tension, and aging potential.

Another major name, the Denis Mortet estate, whose wines combine aromatic intensity, structure, and elegance. The cuvées are often generous, expressive, and accessible in their youth, while maintaining excellent aging potential. This style appeals to many enthusiasts seeking Gevrey-Chambertin wines that are both powerful and harmonious.

The Dugat-Py estate embodies a more concentrated and ambitious vision of the appellation. Very low yields, high ripeness, and meticulous aging result in deep, dense, and full-bodied wines, intended for long aging. These cuvées are primarily aimed at lovers of intense and structured wines.

Other renowned estates also contribute fully to the reputation of Gevrey-Chambertin, such as Perrot-Minot, recognized for the precision and finesse of its wines, Dujac, famous for its elegant and balanced approach, or Marchand-Grillot, whose cuvées favor freshness, clarity of terroir, and a more ethereal expression of Pinot Noir.

This diversity of properties and styles allows Pinot Noir enthusiasts to find very different wines within the Gevrey-Chambertin AOC, whether they are looking for a powerful and age-worthy wine, a more elegant and accessible profile, or a precise cuvée from a renowned climat.

 

Buy your Gevrey-Chambertin online

Buying a Gevrey-Chambertin online gives you access to a carefully curated selection, allows you to compare cuvées and vintages, and benefit from expert advice without the need to travel. For such a prestigious and sought-after appellation, choosing the right partner is also essential to guarantee the authenticity of the wines, their perfect preservation, and flawless delivery !

 

La Cave Éclairée : expertise, selection and trust

At La Cave Éclairée, each Gevrey-Chambertin cuvée is selected with the utmost care, focusing on quality estates and wines that are true to their terroir. As an independent online wine merchant, we also offer more than 350 selections, with particular attention given to organic and biodynamic wines.

In addition, all our wines are stored in ideal conditions within our warehouse. La Cave Éclairée also ensures fast and secure delivery, in France as well as in Europe, with packaging specially designed to protect the bottles, including for age-worthy wines such as Gevrey-Chambertin.

Finally, buying a Gevrey-Chambertin online should not be an impersonal act. La Cave Éclairée makes it a point of honor to offer attentive and personalized customer service, able to advise according to the desired style (powerful, elegant, accessible, age-worthy), price, or occasion (gift, meal, cellar building). This support will allow you to choose the most suitable wine, whether you are an informed enthusiast or a collector. Check out the reviews left by our customers, and you will be convinced!

 

A simple and transparent shopping experience

The La Cave Éclairée website is designed to offer a seamless shopping experience, with detailed product pages for each wine, educational descriptions, and clear information about the available cuvées. Buying your Gevrey-Chambertin online thus becomes a safe, convenient, and informed act. 

Buying your Gevrey-Chambertin online at La Cave Éclairée means choosing selection, trust, quality service, and controlled delivery, all in the service of great Burgundy wines (Chablis, Corton, Beaune, Saint-Aubin, Mâcon, Pouilly-Fuissé, etc.) but also from all regions of France such as the Loire or Alsace.

 

In summary

As you will have understood, the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation holds a special place in the world of Burgundy and French wine. Through the richness of its vineyard, the precision of vine work, and the expertise of each estate, it offers cuvées with a distinctive style, capable of expressing all the complexity and elegance of the great wines of the Côte-de-Nuits. From the finesse of village cuvées to the depth of the most prestigious appellations, Gevrey embodies a remarkable balance between tradition, character, and aging potential.

While browsing our site, you can extend this discovery and explore other great references from Burgundy and beyond, whether it is Saint-Aubin, Beaune, Chablis, or carefully selected red wine cuvées. Take the time to compare, get informed, and choose the wine that will accompany your tasting moments, your meals, or your events. Let yourself be guided and feel free to check the reviews on each of our products to help you decide !

 

FAQ  - Everything you need to know about Gevrey-Chambertin

 

Is Gevrey-Chambertin exclusively a red wine ?

Yes. The Gevrey-Chambertin AOC produces exclusively red wines, made from the Pinot Noir grape variety. There is no white wine within the appellation, unlike other Burgundy AOCs such as Chablis, Saint-Aubin, or Beaune.

 

What are the differences between Gevrey-Chambertin Villages, Premiers Crus, and Grands Crus ?

A Gevrey-Chambertin Village comes from unclassified plots and offers a great introduction to the style of the appellation. However, many lieux-dits recognized by the INAO exist and may be mentioned on the label.

The Premiers Crus come from vineyards recognized for the quality of their terroir, allowing the production of wines with greater complexity, structure, and aging potential.

Finally, the Grands Crus (Clos de Bèze, Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, etc.) represent the elite, with deep, concentrated wines capable of aging for several decades.

 

What is the aging potential of a Gevrey-Chambertin ?

Gevrey-Chambertin wines are renowned for their excellent aging capacity. The "village" cuvées can generally be kept for between 5 and 10 years, while the Premiers Crus and Grands Crus easily reach 15 to 30 years, or even longer for the greatest vintages.

 

Can you drink a young Gevrey-Chambertin ?

Yes, some Gevrey-Chambertin wines, especially the "village" wines or those from estates that favor finesse, can be enjoyed young after aeration or decanting. However, more structured cuvées benefit from being aged to reveal their full complexity.

 

On what occasions should you offer a Gevrey-Chambertin ?

Gevrey-Chambertin is a wine particularly appreciated for gourmet meals, special occasions, or as a gift for a Burgundy enthusiast. The Premier Crus and Grand Crus are often chosen to mark an event or to enrich a wine cellar for aging.

 

Why buy a Gevrey-Chambertin online ?

Buying a Gevrey-Chambertin online gives you access to a wide selection of estates, cuvées, and vintages, while also benefiting from personalized advice. It is also a safe way to enjoy better prices.

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