2022 Domaine Sylvie Esmonin Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru "Clos Saint-Jacques", Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Clos Saint-Jacques is widely regarded as a “super-premier cru”—a vineyard with Grand Cru pedigree—thanks to its exceptional terroir: a steep, east-facing slope with ideal drainage and a high proportion of limestone mixed with clay and marl. Sylvie Esmonin owns a small parcel in the heart of the clos, planted with old vines (some from the 1940s), which yield intensely concentrated yet balanced fruit.

In 2022, warm days and cool nights produced fruit of remarkable aromatic clarity and structural precision. Esmonin fermented the wine with 100% whole clusters, a signature technique she employs to emphasize aromatic lift, energy, and tannic finesse. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, with a higher percentage of new oak (around 60–70%) to match the density and grandeur of the site, yet always with sensitivity to terroir.

The result is a Clos Saint-Jacques that walks the line between power and finesse—complex and tightly wound in its youth, but poised to unfold gracefully over the next 15–20 years. Pair it with roast duck, venison, or truffle dishes to echo its earthy depth and aromatic intricacy.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Sylvie Esmonin, based in Gevrey-Chambertin, is a small family estate helmed by Sylvie Esmonin, one of the region’s most respected and quietly influential winemakers. Since taking over from her father Michel in the 1990s, Sylvie has earned a reputation for crafting wines of both soulful expression and intellectual rigor—wines that are grounded in tradition but driven by intuition.

The estate is farmed sustainably, with an emphasis on biodiversity, vine balance, and soil health. In the cellar, Sylvie works with minimal intervention, favoring whole-cluster fermentations, indigenous yeasts, and élevage in carefully selected barrels, many from top coopers in Burgundy.

Her Clos Saint-Jacques is the crown jewel of the domaine—a wine that consistently ranks among the finest examples of this elite premier cru, offering both the structure for long aging and the detail to express its extraordinary terroir with clarity and grace.