DOMAINE JOSEPH COLIN

This is one of our most thrilling discoveries in recent years and we are absolutely delighted and excited to have been chosen to represent this wonderful, newly-formed domaine in the UK. Joseph left the family domaine in 2016 to forge his own path. With only 6 hectares presently under vine, based in the hamlet of Gamay near Saint-Aubin, he is able to work in a way that was previously not possible.

Everything is carried out manually in the vines, with ploughing between the rows and no herbicides or chemical fertilizers. On the steep slopes of Chatenieres and Sentier du Clou, he grows grasses to combat erosion. He uses organic products whenever possible to control pests and diseases. For his white wines, the grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed, the must run-off straight into barrel, and is neither settled, chilled nor are sulphites added. Only indigenous yeasts are used. The wines spend 12 months in barrel, without bâtonnage and the barrels are topped twice a week. Racking is after 12 months, without SO2, when the moon is descending, on either “fruit” or “flower” days. Everything is done by gravity. After racking, the wines are lightly fined and sulfited and then spend 2 months in tank, prior to being bottled without filtration. He uses between 15% and 20% new oak barrels.

Bourgogne Chardonnay “Les Hauts de la Combe” from 30 ares of 25-year-old vines, situated in the commune of Puligny-Montrachet lieu-dit of La Combe and 10ares of 4 year old vines in Chassagne-Montrachet. Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc is from 1.32 hectares of 20 to 75-year-old, exceptionally well-situated vines in the lieux-dits of Les Meix Goudard (just below 1er Cru Les Macherelles), Blanchot Dessous and En Journoblot (both next to Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet).

Puligny-Montrachet “Le Trezin” from 32 ares of east-south-east facing 55-60-year-old vines on white clay and limestone soils. This is the highest vineyard in Puligny, above the hamlet of Blagny. The altitude, wind and coolness give wines of great tension and precision and because of the clay content, the vines didn’t suffer in 2021. Saint-Aubin Blanc “Compendium” is from 79 ares of 20-45 year old vines on clay/limestone soils from the lieux dits of Champs Tirant, En l’Ebaupin, Tope Bataille, Le Banc, Au Bas de Jorcul and En Vermarin a l’Est. Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots is produced from young vines (2019 was the first vintage). A steep, south facing slope, at 350m, on clay-limestone soils. Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur le Sentier du Clou from 70-80 year old vines. Steep, full-east facing on deep white marne. Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes  is a cold site, beneath Sentier du Clou. 40-50 year old vines on white clay, limestone and stones. Frionnes and Chatenière produce the most tense, crisp, “tonique” energetic wines. Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly is from 56 ares of 40-year-old vines on very rocky limestone soils – ¾ on the plateau above Chevalier-Montrachet with lots of light, ¼ from Les Cortons, close to Chatenière. Saint-Aubin 1^er Cru La Chatenière is produced from two parcels totalling 58 ares of 30-70 year old vines on an extremely steep, cool, limestone slope with hardly any topsoil. Always the last plot to be harvested. No late afternoon sun, it performs best in hot years. Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge is from 32 ares of 40-year-old vines, on deeper clay/limestone soils, from the lieux dits of Les Pierres and Le Poirier du Clos. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in vat, with indigenous yeasts, without crushing or SO2. 20-day cuvaison, 12 months in 10% new oak and bottled without fining or filtration.

These are stunning wines – Exquisite, generous and full of intense flavours, whilst retaining great tension, poise, energy, minerality, and salinity.