DOMAINE FELETTIG

If any domaine has made more dramatic progress over the last decade, we would be very surprised.

Henri Felettig, a former vineyard worker, founded this domaine in 1974. His children Gilbert (viticulture and vinification) and Christine (commercial) joined him in 1993 and now run this 12.5-hectare domaine, which comprises some 100 individual parcels! Viticulture is now organic, with no use of herbicides or insecticides, their vines are mostly old (40-50 years), and everything is harvested by hand. In 2021, they began the formal process of certification.

Following a rigorous selection, during which the grapes are sorted in both the vineyard and cuverie, they then undergo a 5–7-day cold maceration at 10°C prior to fermentation and a three-week cuvaison. Since 2016, Gilbert has included a judicious proportion of stems in some cuvées. Gilbert is now far gentler in terms of frequency and intensity of pigeage and now prefers limited pumping over, which is borne out by the precision and purity of their wines. They then see between 30% new oak in the case of the village wines and 50-100% for the premier and grand crus, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Gilbert also makes wines from a proportion of grapes either exchanged with or bought from friends – and where he exercises an element of viticultural control, including the date of harvesting. Only grapes are bought by Gilbert – never must nor wine.

A brand new cuverie has recently been completed and every process is carried out by gravity. A genuine star domaine, which will only become even better. Gilbert has recently been joined by his daughter, Pauline, and they are working towards organic certification.

Bourgogne Aligoté Vieilles Vignes from 60+ and 35-40-year-old vines in Chambolle and Vosne. Fermented in older barrels. Bourgogne Rouge is from 45-year-old vines, just over the other side of the RN74 in Chambolle – stoney, well-drained soils, all in the cone d’ejection of the combe (dry valley) 20% new oak. All destemmed.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Lavrottes from 20+ year old vines on slightly heavier soils. 60% new oak. 28% whole bunches. Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Combottes produced from very “calcaire” soils. A 0.25-hectare plot of 60 year old vines. 50% new oak. 67% whole bunches. Corton Grand Cru Les Grandes Lollières from 30 ares of east-facing, 50-year-old vines from the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny. Very stony, clay topsoil on compacted limestone. 20% whole bunches. 16 months in 100% new oak. Echezeaux Grand Cru from vines planted in 2001 in Les Treux. 1 new 500 litre demi-muid made, 74% whole bunches.

“I have enthusiastically reported on the rapid rise of Domaine Felettig to increasing prominence as the quality has done nothing but improve. 2016 represents a cherry on top of the cake as I have never seen better wines across the board from the domaine. If you’re not familiar with the wines, you owe it to yourself to make their acquaintance.” – Allen Meadows, Burghound

www.domaine-felettig.com