Regular readers will know Gautier Desvignes, the humble, friendly, thirtysomething winemaker who has transformed his modest family domaine into a top name in the region. William Kelley writes that Desvignes is “one of the leading lights in the Côte Chalonnaise,” and we wholeheartedly agree.
Gautier has refined his cellar technique considerably, using gentler extractions, and focused his barrel work through exhaustive (some might say obsessive) experimentation and tasting. The resulting wines easily rival reds from the Côte d’Or in detail and complexity, and simply blow them away on price. We had today’s bottle open over the weekend alongside reds from the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, and the Givry was the clear winner.
The “Clos du Vernoy” is the Desvignes monopole, with vines dating back to 1960. It produces deep, woodsy wines that overperform their humble Côte Chalonnaise appellation. The 2024 shows sweet red fruits (strawberry and cherry), with a beautiful, elegant stoniness beneath. The texture is extremely fine, with a mouthwatering freshness that carries across the rich fruit. This ambitious, impressive cuvée offers soaring elegance in 2024, and provides tremendous value.
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Desvignes Givry 1er “Clos du Vernoy” 2024
bottle price: $45
