DOMAINE RENÉ BOUVIER

Bernard Bouvier has 17 hectares under vine in and around Gevrey, Fixin and Marsannay – where he is president of the local syndicate. He has now moved to, and recently extended, state-of-the-art cellars just north of Gevrey and the quality of his wines is now absolute top division.

Vines average 50 years old. Yields are extremely low and the domaine is run on organic principles. Everything is hand picked and Bernard is increasingly employing a higher percentage of whole bunches. Fermentation of the reds involves a long, cold maceration and a gentle extraction – what Bernard calls an infusion.

About one third new barrels are used. They are bottled without fining or filtration and are fine, pure, concentrated and subtle. The Marsannay “En Ouzeloy”, Fixin “Crays de Chêne” and Gevrey “La Justice” benefit from small, fine stones, washed down from the Combe de Lavaux – which give wines of great finesse and elegance. The Marsannay Blanc “Le Clos”, from lighter soils, is also a delicious revelation.

renebouvier.com/