DOMAINE PHILIPPE GAVIGNET

Philippe Gavignet and his son Benoit create Nuits-Saint-Georges with a profound elegance, countering the appellation’s reputation for often delivering more “rustique” wines. Gavignet’s wines are a testament to the terroir’s potential for producing refined Burgundy.

Established in 1979, with state-of-the-art cellars built only a couple of years ago, we were treated to a fantastic tasting. Most of Philippe Gavignet’s Pinot Noir vines are notably old, with the majority planted during the 1930s and 1950s. The vineyards are cultivated as naturally as possible, steering clear of herbicides and pesticides. Hand-harvesting is a standard practice, and the wines undergo aging in a combination of new and older French oak barrels, with no more than one-third being new oak. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc Les Argillats is 50% Pinot Blanc and 50% Chardonnay and comes from a small plot of 0.51ha on clay and gravel.

The Bourgogne Hautes Côte s de Nuits Clos de l’Hermitage comes from a 0.27ha plot from the lieu-dit of “Hermitage”. This vineyard is located up the hills west of 1er Chateau Gris. The vineyards are 300 and 400 meters above sea level and are planted on very stony and red shallow soil. The Nuits-Saint-Georges “La Charmotte” is located in the northern part of the Appellation, just below the “Aux Bousselots” 1ers. A terroir of clay, silt and pebbles brought down from the Coast, alluvium from the Meuzin valley. Nuits-Saint-Georges “Vieilles Vignes” is an old vine selection from 6 plots, Belle Croix, Aux Allots, St Jacques, Aux Tuyaux, Aux Athées, Les Creux Fraîche-Eau. The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers is Gavignet’s top cuvee, it has dark brown to reddish brown soil, very stony at the bottom of the plot. 

Interestingly, Gavignet remains somewhat of an insider’s gem, overshadowed by more prominent names in the village that command higher prices. 

http://www.domaine-gavignet.fr