Why it matters
The producer
French oak élevage links three distinct bottles at Domaine Faiveley. Based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the domaine makes Bourgogne Chardonnay, Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, and Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, moving from a regional Burgundy label to village and grand cru wines.
Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is the old vine village wine. Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is the named grand cru bottle, while Bourgogne Chardonnay provides the regional white. Each wine has its own ageing regime, with oak treatment and cellar time adjusted across the range.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Domaine Faiveley is based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, within Burgundy's Côte de Nuits. Gevrey-Chambertin is a village appellation, while Clos de Vougeot is a classified grand cru vineyard. A Bourgogne label covers a wider regional category, so the three names place the bottles at different levels of Burgundy's vineyard hierarchy.
The Bourgogne Chardonnay is matured in the domaine's Nuits-Saint-Georges cellars. The two red wines carry named Côte de Nuits addresses, with Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes at village level and Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru at vineyard level.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru spends 16 months in French oak, with 60% new oak. Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes ages for 14 months in French oak, with less than one third new oak and regular stirring. Barrel ageing gives the wine gradual oxygen exposure and can add woody notes, while regular stirring keeps fine lees moving and can broaden texture.
Bourgogne Chardonnay matures for 8 to 10 months in the Nuits-Saint-Georges cellars. Part of the cuvée is aged in oak barrels, with the proportion varying by vintage.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range has three clear levels. Bourgogne Chardonnay is the regional white. Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is the village red from old vines, while Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is the grand cru red.
The Chardonnay's share of oak changes with the vintage. The red wines move from a village address to a classified vineyard, giving the range a clear progression in label hierarchy without changing its Burgundian vocabulary.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose Faiveley Bourgogne Chardonnay first. It is the regional white in the range, matured in the domaine's Nuits-Saint-Georges cellars with a portion of the cuvée aged in oak, with the proportion varying by vintage. The bottle introduces the domaine's white wine and cellar work before Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes and Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru move into red Burgundy at village and grand cru levels.