The Estate

Domaine Castagnier is a distinguished producer located in Morey-St-Denis, Burgundy, renowned for producing high-quality Pinot Noir wines. The estate has a rich history that traces back five generations, with much of the vines coming from the maternal side of the family. Jérôme Castagnier has been at the helm since 2005, and under his stewardship, the Domaine has gained recognition for its meticulous vineyard management and winemaking practices. The estate spans approximately 4 hectares, featuring a mix of Village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru vineyards, with vines of a high average age, and about half in notable Grand Cru sites such as Clos de la Roche, Charmes-Chambertin, Clos Saint Denis, and Clos de Vougeot. The estate's wines are characterized by their vibrant fruit profiles, concentration, structure, balanced acidity, and ability to age gracefully, appealing to both collectors and wine enthusiasts alike. Wines made with Domaine fruit are bottled under the Domaine Castagnier label, while a négoce label bottled under Jérôme Castagnier focusses mainly on white wines from vineyards such as Puligny Montrachet and Corton Charlemagne. The split is about 75% Domaine and 25% négoce wines.

Viticulture and Vinification

Domaine Castagnier is committed to sustainable viticulture and employs both organic and biodynamic practices to enhance the health of its vineyards and the quality of its wines. The estate focuses on minimal intervention, allowing the terroir to express itself fully in each bottle.

Jérôme farms organically but also follows certain biodynamic methods, promoting biodiversity within the vineyard ecosystem. In the cellar, the estate often utilizes whole bunches during fermentation, typically 40% in good years but none for years with difficult weather conditions.

To minimize oxidation and preserve the integrity of the grapes, Jérôme employs a gravity-driven system for wine production. The vinification process at Domaine Castagnier incorporates less pigeage (punching down of the cap) and more délestage (rack-and-return), resulting in wines that are well-balanced and expressive without being overly extracted.

The wines are aged in carefully selected barrels from Francois Frere and Chassagne, with a mix of light and medium toasted oak. Typically 40% of new oak and 60% of one year old oak are used from the Village level and up.

Wines Produced

The following wines are all produced from Domaine fruit.

Bourgogone Aligoté

Coteaux Bourguignons Chardonnay

Coteaux Bourguignons Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Gamay. Good structure and easy to drink.

bourgogne rouge

Gevrey Chambertin Village

From the Les Seuvrées vineyard.

Chambolle Musigny Village

First planted in 1921, from one single parcel of a low yielding vineyard in Aux Echanges. Clay soil with a bit of limestone.

Morey Saint Denis Aux Cheseaux 1er Cru

One of only three winemakers to have vines in this vineyard. The Domaine’s 0.19 hectare of vines are right next to rows of Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru vines.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

3,000 bottles produced per year from 0.6 hectares of vines with an average age of 75 years old.

Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru

Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru

From vines with more than 60 years of age.

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

From 0.5 hectares and towards the south of the vineyard where Grands Echezeaux lies just on th eother side of the wall.

Négoce wines range from Saint Romain and Puligny Montrachet to Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru in whites, and from Vosne Romanee Village to Bonnes Mares Grand Cru in reds.

Critical Praise

The Domaine’s sales are mostly in France and the wines are not widely tasted by critics, but they perform consistently well in the annual Burgfest blind tasting attended by merchants and critics.

Neal Martin of Vinous.com describes the 2015 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru as “Utterly seductive and entrancing…. Out of almost 500 wines tasted over two weeks, this may well constitute the biggest surprise.”

Bill Nanson of The Burgundy Report describes the 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru as “a big bouquet of flowers – wow, what a nose! Supple, generous, but nothing overdone, a little mineral, a lot complex – one of my wines of the vintage. Magic!”

GENERAL INFORMATION

Country:  France

Region:  Burgundy

Appellation:  Morey Saint Denis

Founded:  1890

Annual Production: 4,000 cases

Farming: Organic and following biodynamic principles