Domaine René Bouvier | Gevrey Chambertin

Domaine René Bouvier has 30 hectares under vine in and around Gevrey, Fixin and Marsannay. Currently headed by Bernard Bouvier - president of the local syndicate - the domaine is located in state-of-the-art cellars just north of Gevrey and the quality of Bernard's wines is absolutely top division, regularly championed by Bourgogne Aujourd’hui.

Vines average 50 years old - with some dating back to 1922. Bernard believes in winter ploughing and some grass cover during the growing season. Yields are kept low by severe pruning and green harvesting is rarely necessary thereafter. Since 2009, the domaine has been entirely run on organic principles, but Bernard no longer wishes to be certified as such.

Bernard seeks perfect ripeness, but prizes freshness, so does not pick too late. There is now about 50% whole bunch inclusion in his red wines. Fermentations are extremely gentle and more of an “infusion” with very limited pigeage or remontage. The wines are matured for between 12 and 18 months in a combination of barriques, demi-muids and concrete eggs, then a further 6 months in stainless steel tanks, prior to being bottled.