Domaine Henri Magnien 1er cru Champeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin
Elevated and east-facing–just south of Evocelles–the vineyard is situated in the most northerly 1er cru of Gevrey-Chambertin. Champeaux is made up of lots of small parcels, some of which are terraces, the vineyard’s slope varies from gentle to steep.
'...this is an exciting emerging domaine with which consumers are warmly advised to acquaint themselves'
- Wine Advocate
Elevated and east-facing–just south of Evocelles–the vineyard is situated in the most northerly 1er cru of Gevrey-Chambertin. Champeaux is made up of lots of small parcels, some of which are terraces, the vineyard’s slope varies from gentle to steep.
'...this is an exciting emerging domaine with which consumers are warmly advised to acquaint themselves'
- Wine Advocate
The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux 1er Cru comes from 33-year-old vines adjacent to Evocelles. The nose takes more time to settle compared to the Champerrier, gradually evolving attractive briar and black currant aromas and sous-bois and mulch-like scents. The palate is medium-bodied and gently grippy on the entry. This is more structured than the Champerrier, with a little chewiness on the finish. Good potential, but it needs three to five years in bottle.
(90-92) points, Vinous (January 2020)
The vineyard was planted in 1986 with pinot Magnien, a fine quality plant which does not ripen too early. One new barrel in 4, the rest are one year old. Deep but lively purple, an explosion of vivid cherries. I would not go quite as far as morello but certainly cherry supreme. Wonderful juice with just enough youthful bitterness, and the explosion will not close down. Bravo!
(93-96) points, Inside Burgundy (November 2019)
The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux bursts with aromas of peonies, dried flowers, sweet berry fruit and orange rind. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a layered core of succulent fruit framed by powdery tannins. This is an elegantly rendered Champeaux that will be approachable young.
(90-93) points, Wine Advocate (February 2020)
15% whole bunch. Bottled.
Pretty on the nose – the aroma takes me more to Morey than Gevrey but it is darker and more spicy on the palate. Elegant, refined, already married and surprisingly accessible. Moderate length but very elegant.
17 points, JancisRobinson.com (January 2020)
“For fifteen years the Emperor [Napoleon] constantly drank the same wine [Gevrey-Chambertin] , which he liked and which we believed was good for him."
Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène by The Count of Las Cases
Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest wine-producing village in the entire Côte d’Or with the wines typically deeper in colour, with more tannin structure and firmer in body than most red Burgundy. Thanks to the iron-rich clay soils the very best can develop into the richest, biggest and long-lived Pinot Noir - this of course depends on whether the vineyard is located on the steeper slopes or the flatter, richer soils.
Gevrey boasts an impressive nine Grands Crus, with the name of Chambertin retaining a regal omnipresence throughout its finest vineyard names. Chambertin-Clos de Bèze which has the right to sell its wines simply as ‘Chambertin’, and is also the only wine allowed to put the ‘Chambertin’ before (rather than after its own), is considered one of the greats. Quality-wise the next best is generally acknowledged to be Mazis-Chambertin with incredibly concentrated and fine wines, but a little less firm than Le Chambertin. The tiny Griottes-Chambertin, which owes its name to the grill-pan shape of the vineyard rather than the wine’s griotte (sour) cherry aroma, is lower down the slope and boasts a velvety texture and rich fruit reminiscent of Chambertin itself. Gevrey’s largest Grand Cru, Charmes-Chambertin is pure and seductive.
The wines of Gevrey-Chambertin are deeply colored. They have intense aromas of currants and other small red and black fruits, animal notes of musk and fur, and often a touch of licorice after some bottle aging. They are powerful, with balanced tannins, a soft mouthfeel and good acidity. These are generally robust wines.
While the Magnien family has been operating in Burgundy since the mid-1600s, Domaine Henri Magnien et Fils was established in 1987 by Henri for himself, his son François and his grandson Charles. After working side-by-side with his father, Charles took the reins in 2009 and is now considered to be in the vanguard of the young, energetic winemakers in the Gevrey-Chambertin and the Côte de Nuits.
Domaine Henri Magnien is a small family-owned and run estate of a mere six hectares of vineyard holdings. What they lack in hectarage they make up for in undoubted Gevrey-Chambertin quality. The Magnien family’s inexorable march to organic viticulture has been going for years with around 80% already complete. Charles, considered to be one of Burgundy’s rising stars, employs Selection Massale, or Massal Selection, to plant his more recent vineyards with cutting selections made from 70 to 100-year-old vines. These clonal selections are known as Pinot Magnien (the family has been around for a while) and are widely considered to be the best in the appellation. They are much sought-after and used by the likes of Jérôme Galeyrand.
The Domaine also has many of the very best vineyards, including Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Les Cazetiers and Ruchottes-Chambertin.
