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FRANCE
Domaine Pierre Gelin
WINERY OVERVIEW
Domaine Pierre Gelin is the leading wine producer in the small village of Fixin (pronounced
“Fees-an”). The domaine has 32 acres (13 hectares) within Fixin and in nearby Gevrey-
Chambertin, including holdings in five of Fixin’s eight premier crus. They are the monopole
owner of one of the very best Fixin premier crus, the Clos Napoléon. The family domaine was
founded in 1925 by its namesake Pierre Gelin and is currently in the hands of Pierre’s grandson,
Pierre-Emmanuel. Pierre-Emmanuel practices lutte raisonée (“reasoned struggle”) and works
to minimize the impact on the environment in both vineyard and cellar. Domaine Pierre Gelin
endeavors to produce wines that are “pure and honest.”
LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Fixin is a quiet village sitting at the northern end of the Côte de Nuits, just a short half-hour
drive from the center of Dijon. Fixin became an AOC in 1936 with 222 acres (90 hectacres)
of vines and eight premier crus. Almost all the village’s production is red, and the wines tend
to be robust, structured, and earthy. Domaine Pierre Gelin owns 32 acres (13 hectares) in
total, including parcels in five of the Fixin premier crus and the monopole Clos Napoléon. In
1961 Pierre also purchased vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, including the monopole Clos de
Meixvelle, Clos Prieur 1er cru, and the Grand Cru Clos de Bèze.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
The Gelin family invested in a larger, more efficient winery, which was upgraded and ready
for the 2011 harvest. “The new winery allows us more flexibility during harvest, as well as the
technology to increase wine quality,” says Pierre-Emmanuel. The wines of Domaine Pierre
Gelin have always been de-stemmed with a long cuvaison of 8 – 10 days and a judicious use of
oak. Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation which takes place in stainless-steel and
oak tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel and the wines are aged for 20 – 24 months
in varying percentages of new oak: up to 80% new oak for the Grand Cru, and 25% new for
the premier crus. They use older barrels for village wines.
Owned by
: Pierre-Emmanuel Gelin
Winemaker
: Pierre-Emmanuel Gelin
Founded in
: 1925
Region
: Burgundy
Country
: France
Wine
: Domaine Pierre Gelin, Bourgogne Rouge
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Fixin
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Fixin 1er Cru Clos Napoléon
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Fixin 1er Cru Les Hervelets
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Gevrey-Chambertin Clos de Meixvelle
Domaine Pierre Gelin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru