Gevrey Chambertin 1er cru Lavaux St Jacques 2022 Domaine Faiveley

The Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques 2022 from Domaine Faiveley ranks among the most coveted cuvées from this reference house, sourced from a parcel acquired in 2013 and recognised as one of the three finest Premier Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin, alongside Cazetiers and Clos Saint-Jacques. The complex nose reveals a fruited character evoking blackberry and bilberry. On the palate, power and concentration sit in harmony, with fine-grained tannins extending through to a persistent finish marked by subtle leather notes.

The terroir of Lavaux Saint-Jacques

Lavaux Saint-Jacques lies in the northern section of Gevrey village, just before the combe. The name likely derives from "La Val", a medieval term for a topographic depression or hollow. The domaine acquired this terroir in 2013, working soils of fossiliferous rock and clay on a one-hectare vineyard planted across 1968, 1986, 1993 and 2019. This 0.99-hectare parcel enjoys east and southeast exposure and is farmed organically. More feminine in character than Cazetiers, it seduces through delicacy and refinement. Winemaking follows the domaine's established philosophy: hand-harvested fruit, brief prefermantive maceration, vinification in wooden tronconical vats, and ageing in French oak within the domaine's 19th-century cellars.

Tasting profile

The nose reveals rich dark fruit aromas evoking a generous basket of blackberries and bilberries. On the palate it shows power, warmth and concentration, offering a remarkable aromatic expression. The tannins are refined and the finish persistent, with leather notes. Medium-bodied with fine-grained, taut and elegantly detailed tannins. Considerable tension and terroir expression emerge in a purely Pinot finish. The generous 2022 vintage marries ripe fruit character with fine, refined tannin structure, creating a wine of great elegance and considerable ageing potential. Drink from 2027 over the following twenty years.

The domaine

Established in 1825 in Nuits-Saint-Georges at the heart of the Côte de Nuits, the Faiveley family heads one of Burgundy's finest domaines. Since 2005, the seventh generation has stewarded this Burgundian jewel, embodied by Erwan Faiveley and his sister Eve. With over 120 hectares of vineyard, Domaine Faiveley ranks among Burgundy's largest and most prestigious estates.

Food pairings

This Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques pairs beautifully with beef fillet with wild mushrooms, lamb cutlets with Provençal herbs, roasted partridge with cabbage, civet of hare or duck breast with cherry. It also harmonises well with aged cheeses such as Époisses or Soumaintrain. An hour of decanting is suggested in its youth. Served between 15 and 17°C, it will reveal the finesse, elegance and depth of one of Gevrey-Chambertin's three finest Premier Crus.