2022 Domaine Sylvie Esmonin Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Sourced from multiple lieux-dits across Gevrey-Chambertin, this village-level bottling is made entirely from estate-grown Pinot Noir, much of it from old vines—some over 60 years of age—planted on classic clay-limestone soils. These vineyards lie on the lower slopes beneath premier cru sites, giving the wine a balance of structure and accessibility.

In 2022, a warm yet well-balanced vintage, Sylvie Esmonin crafted a wine of purity and charm. The fruit was largely fermented with whole clusters, a hallmark of her style, which enhances aromatic lift, adds structure, and underscores the wine’s natural energy. Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeasts, and aging takes place in French oak barrels, around 30–40% of which are new, to bring subtle depth without overshadowing the fruit.

This Gevrey-Chambertin offers a layered profile: ripe red fruits, forest floor, and a savory mineral core, wrapped in a textural, nuanced frame. While approachable now, it will reward 5–10 years of cellaring. Pair it with duck breast, rabbit with mustard, or roast mushrooms over polenta to echo its earthy complexity.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Sylvie Esmonin is a revered small estate in Gevrey-Chambertin, helmed by Sylvie Esmonin, one of Burgundy’s most respected and thoughtful vigneronnes. A former intern with the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy, Sylvie returned to her family’s domaine in the 1990s, inheriting a legacy from her father, Michel Esmonin. Since then, she has refined her approach to produce wines of clarity, complexity, and unmistakable terroir expression.

Farming is sustainable, with low yields, no chemical herbicides, and an emphasis on maintaining soil health and vine balance. In the cellar, Sylvie blends traditional and Burgundian-modern practices—whole-cluster fermentations, minimal intervention, and aging in carefully selected barrels.

Her Gevrey-Chambertin bottling captures the domaine’s essence: precision, old-vine concentration, and the ability to speak eloquently of place. It is a benchmark village wine that consistently overdelivers in depth and ageability.