Felettig

History of Domaine Felettig

The story begins in 1965, when Henri Felettig inherited two hectares of vines in Chambolle-Musigny from his parents. The grapes were sent to the village cooperative cellar. After four years of preparation in the vineyards and the cellar, Henri took the plunge and vinified his first harvest in 1969, the official birth year of the domaine. From 1973 onwards, he and his wife Reine purchased a property to expand the range and increase the area under production. The couple maintained this philosophy for two decades, acquiring or taking on lease all the vines they deemed worthwhile, until the vineyard reached nine hectares in 1992.

In 1993, a major turning point occurred: Christine and Gilbert, the children of Henri and Reine, joined their parents and the estate became a true family company. Brother and sister maintained the same exacting standards while gradually refining the house style towards greater precision, freshness and aromatic definition. They also continued to expand the vineyard holdings, notably in 2018 with the arrival of new cuvées such as the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, the Beaune 1er Cru Les Champs-Pimont and the Corton Les Grandes Lolières. Today, the domaine covers approximately thirteen hectares, with the involvement of the next generation, and exports wines that are regularly acclaimed by international critics for their exemplary quality-to-price ratio.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Felettig

The vineyard is a true Burgundian puzzle: more than one hundred plots spread across some thirty climats, often of very small size, sometimes less than twenty ares. The historical heart is in Chambolle-Musigny, where the domaine holds no fewer than seven premiers crus. The soils there are typically argilo-calcareous, with thin layers of clay mixed with small stones resting on limestone slabs or white marls — configurations that give Chambolle its signature of floral and mineral lace. The plots range in altitude from 250 to 330 metres, generally on the mid-slope with east or south-east exposure.

Beyond Chambolle, the vineyard holdings extend across the great neighbouring villages of the Côte de Nuits: Marsannay, Fixin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Flagey-Echézeaux, as well as a foray into the Côte de Beaune with Beaune, Ladoix-Serrigny and the Hautes-Côtes. Several cuvées come from very old vines planted in the 1950s, which yield small berries of exceptional concentration. The domaine practises sustainable, environmentally respectful viticulture, with deliberately low yields, often between 30 and 40 hectolitres per hectare for the crus, and meticulous work throughout the year to obtain impeccable grapes and intervene as little as possible in the cellar.

Winemaking at Domaine Felettig

Harvesting is done by hand, followed by rigorous sorting. The grapes then undergo a cold pre-fermentation maceration of six to seven days depending on the vintage and the appellation, in order to gently extract colour and fresh fruit aromas. Alcoholic fermentations are initiated with indigenous yeasts, and vatting periods are deliberately kept short, not exceeding around fifteen days. Extraction is handled with care, through measured daily pump-overs and punch-downs. The proportion of whole-cluster fermentation varies considerably from one cuvée to another, from 20% for regional appellations to 100% for certain premiers crus, which brings tension, complexity and length to the finish.

Ageing then takes place over 14 to 18 months in oak barrels, with wood sourced from several reputable coopers, including François Frères, Rémond and Rousseau, selected according to the typicity sought for each cuvée. The proportion of new oak is approximately 50% for the premiers crus and grands crus, and around 30% for village appellations. This minimally interventionist approach produces wines that are at once generous, fresh and precise, capable of seducing when young while retaining a real aptitude for ageing.

The Cuvées of Domaine Felettig

Coteaux Bourguignons: a blend from several plots located within the regional appellation area, this cuvée represents the entry level of the domaine. Fruity, supple and immediately pleasing, it offers a fine introduction to the house style at an attractive price.

Bourgogne Aligoté « Vieilles Vignes »: a blend of several Aligoté plots averaging around forty years of age, over half a hectare. After a slow fermentation in tank, the wine spends twelve months in barrels with 10% new oak. It unfolds with fine energy, opening on lime juice then white fruits, with a hint of grape skin in the background.

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune « En Vallerot »: this white Chardonnay wine comes from a plot in Magny-lès-Villers planted in 1990, on the plateau overlooking Ladoix-Serrigny, east-facing on marly soils. Aged for thirteen months in barrels, it is produced at around 3,600 bottles per year and captivates with its freshness and precision.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: a blend of fifteen to twenty barrels depending on the vintage, sourced from vineyards situated below Chambolle, including Les Bons Bâtons. Approximately 20% whole-cluster fermentation. The wine is energetic, medium-bodied, with a beautiful concentration of black cherry and well-balanced tannins.

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits: this cuvée comes from the lieu-dit Les Mouchettes in Villers-la-Faye. More open than the classic Bourgogne due to an early malolactic fermentation, it offers a burst of raspberry fruit with a hint of blackcurrant, lively acidity and a long, elegant finish. Approximately 6,000 bottles produced each year.

Marsannay « Les Crais »: from a plot situated between the lieux-dits Les Echezots and En la Verde, this cuvée is made from grapes purchased from a grower who has practised organic farming for twenty years, harvested by the domaine's own team on the date of its choosing. A straightforward and fruity Marsannay with a fresh, lively structure.

Morey-Saint-Denis « En La Rue de Vergy »: from a plot at the top of the slope, this cuvée develops aromas of plum, orange zest, gentle spices and raw cocoa on the nose. The palate, medium-bodied, is supple and elegant, with beautiful fruit purity, smooth tannins and a saline finish. Confidential production of around 1,200 bottles.

Chambolle-Musigny « Vieilles Vignes »: the flagship cuvée of the domaine, a blend of around twenty plots spread over approximately three hectares in the village appellation area, south and south-east facing on argilo-calcareous soils. One third whole-cluster fermentation and one third new oak. Generous and velvety, it offers a core of pure, juicy fruit, vibrant acidity and a long mineral finish. Approximately 7,000 bottles per year.

Chambolle-Musigny « Clos le Village »: a small half-hectare clos planted more than thirty-five years ago in the very heart of the village, near the church, east-facing on the mid-slope at around 300 metres. The soil, rich in active limestone, and the warm microclimate of the site yield a ripe, textured and charming wine with a well-defined personality.

Vosne-Romanée: a blend of two plots at the lieux-dits Les Chalendins and Aux Jachées, with approximately 60% of the grapes coming from Aux Jachées and a small proportion from the premier cru Les Chaumes. Vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged with 50% new oak, this cuvée displays a brilliant purple colour and the spicy depth characteristic of the village.

Nuits-Saint-Georges: a blend of two plots totalling 0.30 hectares, Aux Lavières to the north and Les Chaliots to the south. The proportion of whole-cluster fermentation varies from 40 to 70%. The colour is a dense purple typical of the appellation, and the wine combines black fruits, spices and a firm structure. Approximately 1,500 bottles per vintage.

Fixin 1er Cru « Clos du Chapitre »: in the north of the Côte de Nuits, this premier cru occupies a gentle east-facing slope at around 300 metres, on deep argilo-calcareous and slightly marly soils. Available from the 2018 vintage, it is produced at around 1,150 bottles and yields a robust, spicy and well-structured wine.

Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru « Clos Sorbé »: a plot situated below the village, between Les Sorbès and Clos Baulet, east-facing on calcareous marls dotted with white stones. A cuvée introduced in 2018, produced in limited quantities of around 1,150 bottles, it offers depth and minerality.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Lavrottes »: a 0.38-hectare plot on a predominantly limestone soil covered with a layer of chailleux limestone. The wine bursts with energy on the palate, with notes of fresh white pepper, raspberry and rose. Average yield of 40 hectolitres per hectare.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Carrières »: a small 0.40-hectare plot at around 300 metres in altitude, comprising two distinct sectors — one limestone, the other marly — with a thin layer of clay over white marls and dense limestone rock. Vinified with nearly 80% whole-cluster fermentation, this is one of the most taut and crystalline expressions of the domaine.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Charmes »: 0.22 hectares of vines around fifty years old, on a thin layer of clay mixed with small stones resting on a limestone base, on a gentle east-facing slope. A yield of around 35 hectolitres per hectare produces a wine of great complexity and delicacy, with considerable ageing potential.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Feusselottes »: a tiny 0.17-hectare plot planted in 1955 and 1956 on limestone and clay. The very small berries yield a concentrated juice. Vinified with 50% whole clusters, this premier cru combines density with aromatic refinement.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Plantes »: a plot of just 0.10 hectares, planted in the early 1950s, situated just above Les Charmes. Vinified entirely with whole clusters and aged in a single new 400-litre barrel, this cuvée has existed as a separate bottling since 2018, its grapes having previously been blended into the premier cru assemblage.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Combottes »: a 0.25-hectare plot in the axis of the village combe, south-east facing on the mid-slope at 330 metres, planted with vines of around 70 years. With 55 to 60% whole-cluster fermentation, it yields a wine of great freshness, deeply marked by the altitude and the ventilation of the combe.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Fuées »: two small plots totalling 0.31 hectares, the first neighbouring Bonnes-Mares with an east-west exposure, the second oriented north-south near Les Cras. Vinified with 60% whole clusters, this intense and structured premier cru rivals certain grands crus. Approximately 1,700 bottles per year.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru « Les Gruenchers »: a 0.21-hectare plot situated opposite the lieu-dit Les Carrières. With a yield of around 40 hectolitres per hectare and some 1,200 bottles produced, it delivers a floral and silky Chambolle of great purity.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru: a blend from six climats, combining domaine-owned parcels and purchased grapes, including Plantes, Chabiots, Chatelots, Gruenchers, Combottes and Aux Combottes. Vinified with 30% whole clusters, it displays a paler colour and a somewhat reductive nose in its youth, before revealing a supple and elegant palate.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru: a blend of two plots acquired in 2018 at the lieux-dits Les Petits Monts and Les Chaumes, totalling 0.25 hectares, with two thirds from Petits Monts. Vinified with 100% whole clusters at a yield of around 30 hectolitres per hectare, it combines breeding, spice and great finesse of structure.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru « Aux Reignots »: a plot situated just above La Romanée, trained as high-trellised vines at two metres and vinified entirely with whole clusters. The intensity of the fruit dominates here, with fewer floral notes and a very fine structure. Production is minuscule, amounting to just two barrels.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru « Les Terres Blanches »: a rarity of the domaine, this premier cru is a white wine made from Chardonnay, sourced from the lieu-dit of the same name in the commune of Premeaux-Prissey. Around 900 bottles per year, for a taut, mineral wine that is particularly original within the landscape of the Côte de Nuits.

Beaune 1er Cru « Les Champs-Pimont »: a 0.54-hectare plot planted in 1968, just below the climat La Montée Rouge. The colour is a deep crimson purple, the nose refined, the palate deep and driven by quality fruit with an impressive length. Available since 2018, approximately 2,500 bottles.

Echézeaux Grand Cru: a small 0.11-hectare plot in the commune of Flagey-Echézeaux, in the Les Treux sector, producing just under 600 bottles per year. Vinified with 50% whole clusters from the young vines planted in 2001, this grand cru offers a wealth of detail on the nose, with lively red fruits and an intact freshness.

Corton « Les Grandes Lolières » Grand Cru: a 0.30-hectare plot in the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny, just below Rognet. The nose is remarkably expressive, able to hold its own after several great bottles from the Côte de Nuits. A very refined expression of Corton, combining restrained power with delicacy, available since 2018 at around 1,200 bottles per year.