2020 Domaine Confuron Gindre Gevrey Chambertin
Region: Burgundy, France
Grape: Pinot Noir
Culinary Suggestions: Peking Duck, Game Meats, Truffle/Mushroom Dishes
Vineyard Practice: Organic, Biodynamic
About
Domaine Confuron-Gindre was established six generations ago in Vosne-Romanée and is located on Rue de La Tâche. François Confuron-Gindre owns a myriad of ideally located vineyards in Vosne-Romanée in addition to a few in Nuits-St-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin. Edouard, Francois’ son, is gradually taking over the business, implementing qualitative evolutions in the vineyard and winery that bring some extra finesse into the wines, whilst being respectful of the history of his family enterprise.
The Domaine accounts for eleven hectares, with five village wines, four premier crus in Vosne-Romanée and one grand cru Échezeaux. This is truly a blessing, considering Vosne-Romanée is regarded as the Holy Grail for Pinot Noir lovers. The Confuron name resonates very far in Vosne-Romanée with three influential branches (including Jean-Jacques Confuron and Confuron-Cotetidot) of the family owning substantial holdings in the village.
François Confuron has always been an advocate of proper viticulture in harmony with the environment by ploughing the soils, avoiding herbicides and maintaining a healthy level of old vines within the estate. Working with biodiversity in the vineyard and pushing the roots to dig deep to find their nutrients is paramount for the Confurons.
The domain continues to perform traditional ageing, with the wines having a passage in oak barrels made by several coopers as well as different toasts of wood. The wines will then spend in barrels over a period of about 18 months where a long malolactic fermentation will take place due to a very cool cellar. The bottling is done at the estate, while respecting the best temperatures and the lunar calendar. Finally, the domain is never complacent and is constantly questioning in order to better improve their techniques which have been transmitted between generations to evolve year after year.
The Domaine has flown under the radar for quite some time, but since Edouard, François's son is gradually taking over, the Domaine is also opening up to the world by exporting more and word is slowly slipping out! Edouard is very curious and frequently visits famous neighbours in Vosne-Romanée to learn, listen and refine his skills. Furthermore, he is part of a dynamic group of young growers including Thibaud Clerget who are making wonders of late. That is great news for the future of Burgundy.
Watch out for this Domaine as the quality is here, and from 2017 onwards, improvements have been implemented to boost their complexity. For now, it remains a connoisseur’s secret! - Importer Note
Tasting Notes
Rich even purple, a luxurious nose but less obviously ripe aromatics than the Nuits-St-Georges. A huge wealth of red fruit behind, some tannins a good acidity, perhaps a bit disjointed but this should work out.
88 - 90 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy November 2021