The ever-elusive hunt for the next star in the uber big area of Burgundy hasn't been easy. Jerome Galeyrand has been on the lips of esteemed Sommeliers for years and when we had the chance to visit him, we were delighted with the quality of the produce.
Aligotes are having a resurgence and Jerome is one of the modern champions of this indigenious varietal. His Gervey-Chambertins villages are already popular and do also check out his prized Les Retraits, clad in the historical Burgundian colours.
Originally from the Loire, Jérôme does not come from a winemaking family. He worked for eight years in the food industry. Then, after harvesting for a couple of years at Domaine Alain Burguet in Gevrey-Chambertin as of 1996, became inspired and motivated to embark on his own estate project, and so enrolled at the wine institute in Beaune. In 2002, he bought his first vineyard plot (a miniscule 0.05 hectares!) and carried out his own vinification that September. Since then, Jérôme expanded the holdings to five hectares of vines and harvests every year with a group of well-trained friends.
Vinification takes place in a small winery at his home. His goal is terroir transparency. Viticulture is organic for 70% of the vineyards and sustainable for 30%. No pesticides, all vines are plowed. Some whole cluster inclusion, delicate vinification. All wines are aged in oak barrels - 12 months for whites, 18 to 24 months for reds. Jérôme’s wines are precise, refined and elegant, beautifully perfumed, positively delicious. He produces roughly 2,000 cases a year, based on vintage conditions, of course.
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Bourgogne Aligote "Aligotay" 2018
Vineyard:
• From two sources: the majority is from a parcel in the commune of Puligny, with the
remainder from a parcel near Buxy in the Côte Chalonnaise
Winemaking:
• Vertical press
• Fermentation in barrel (0% new), ambient yeast
• SO2: none added during vinification, 1.5g/hl added in July, slight adjustment 3 weeks
before bottling (20-25 mg/l free, 40-50 mg/l total)
• Aged 10 months in barrel and an additional 3 months in tank
Notes
"Intense, deeply herbal nose. Spicy, full in the mouth, intense and intensely fresh at the same time. Depth, length and freshness. There’s power but no fat or excess weight. Terrific Aligoté with good ageing potential. 16.5+. Drink 2021-2028.
-Julia Harding, for Jancis Robinson, December 2019
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Bourgogne Aligote Le Cran 2018
Variety: Aligoté Doré
Vineyard:
• Located in the commune of Culles-les-Roches in the Côte Chalonnaise, just south of Montagy-lès-Buxy
• Pink granite soils
• Vine age: average of 60 years
Winemaking:
• Vertical press
• Fermentation in barrel (0% new), ambient yeast
• SO2: none added during vinification, 1.5g/hl added in July, slight adjustment 3weeks before bottling (20-25 mg/l free, 40-50 mg/l total)
• Aged 10 months in barrel and an additional 3 months in tank
2019 Vintage:
• The 2019 Bourgogne Aligoté Le Cran comes from a parcel of vines grown on pink granite soils between Buxy and Montagny. It has a well-defined, energetic bouquet, granite scents filtering through the citrus fruit. The palate is well balanced with fine underlying salinity, fresh acidity and good tension on the finish. Recommended. (88-90). Drink 2022-2027.
-Neal Martin, Vinous Media, December 2020
Vineyard:
• From two sources: the majority is from a parcel in the commune of Puligny, with the
remainder from a parcel near Buxy in the Côte Chalonnaise
Winemaking:
• Vertical press
• Fermentation in barrel (0% new), ambient yeast
• SO2: none added during vinification, 1.5g/hl added in July, slight adjustment 3 weeks
before bottling (20-25 mg/l free, 40-50 mg/l total)
• Aged 10 months in barrel and an additional 3 months in tank
Notes
"Intense, deeply herbal nose. Spicy, full in the mouth, intense and intensely fresh at the same time. Depth, length and freshness. There’s power but no fat or excess weight. Terrific Aligoté with good ageing potential. 16.5+. Drink 2021-2028.
-Julia Harding, for Jancis Robinson, December 2019
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Bourgogne Aligote Le Cran 2018
Variety: Aligoté Doré
Vineyard:
• Located in the commune of Culles-les-Roches in the Côte Chalonnaise, just south of Montagy-lès-Buxy
• Pink granite soils
• Vine age: average of 60 years
Winemaking:
• Vertical press
• Fermentation in barrel (0% new), ambient yeast
• SO2: none added during vinification, 1.5g/hl added in July, slight adjustment 3weeks before bottling (20-25 mg/l free, 40-50 mg/l total)
• Aged 10 months in barrel and an additional 3 months in tank
2019 Vintage:
• The 2019 Bourgogne Aligoté Le Cran comes from a parcel of vines grown on pink granite soils between Buxy and Montagny. It has a well-defined, energetic bouquet, granite scents filtering through the citrus fruit. The palate is well balanced with fine underlying salinity, fresh acidity and good tension on the finish. Recommended. (88-90). Drink 2022-2027.
-Neal Martin, Vinous Media, December 2020
Two Superlative Aligotes!
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Côte de Nuits Villages Les Retraits Vieilles Vignes 2018
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes 2018
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice 2018
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Gevrey-Chambertin Billard 2018
- Size: 0.68 ha (1.68ac)
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vine Age: Planted in 1925 and 1932
- Terroir: Next to 1er Clos de la Maréchale, entering Comblanchien, 20 cm-deep soil on limestone with fissures, massal selection
- Viticulture: Organic and biodynamic methods
- Vinification: About 25-30% whole-cluster, indigenous yeast fermentation, minimal SO2 added, pump-overs favored over punch-downs. Aged for 16 months in barrel (maximum 20% new oak).
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes 2018
- Size: 0.36 ha (0.89 ac)
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vine Age: Planted in 1960
- Terroir: En Vignois in Brochon with clay-limestone soil, mid-slope, facing southeast
- Viticulture: Organic and biodynamic methods
- Vinification: 20% whole-cluster, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 16 months in barrel (20% new oak).
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice 2018
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vine Age: Planted from 1950 to 1960
- Terroir: East of D974, near fault line (limestone bedrock) sandy, well-draining topsoil
- Viticulture: Organic and biodynamic methods
- Vinification: 100% de-stemmed, indigenous yeast fermentation, gentle pressing. Aged for 16 months in barrel (20% new oak)
Domaine Jérôme Galeyrand Gevrey-Chambertin Billard 2018
- Size: 0.26 ha (0.64 ac)
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vine Age: Planted in 1987
- Terroir: En Billard lieu-dit (between Champerriers and Clos de la Justice), deeper, well-draining sandy soil, early-ripening site
- Viticulture: Organic and biodynamic methods
- Vinification: 100% de-stemmed, indigenous yeast fermentation, gentle pressing. Aged for 16 months in barrel (20% new oak).
The pair of juicy Gevrey Chambertins
Yummy
The most classical, very limited Magnums available!