Jérôme Chezeaux

History of Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux

The story of Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux has its roots in 1930, when Julien Misserey established a wine-growing estate in Premeaux-Prissey, a few minutes from Nuits-Saint-Georges. In 1971, his daughter Chantal and her husband Bernard Chezeaux officially founded Domaine Bernard Chezeaux and began selling their first bottles. During this period, a large portion of the production was sold to Burgundian négociants.

After studying at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune, their son Jérôme joined the family estate in 1987. Following the untimely passing of Bernard in 1993, Jérôme took over the management of the domaine and began a profound change: he progressively chose to bottle the entire production at the domaine. The vineyard was also enriched by the family plots brought by his wife Pierrette. Today, his daughter Lyse assists him on a daily basis, perpetuating the family spirit. This patient transmission, faithful to the Burgundian tradition, has made Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux a recognised name on the Côte de Nuits, regularly praised by the specialist press (BVV, Bettane et Desseauve).

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux

The vineyard extends over 11.6 hectares located exclusively on the Côte de Nuits, one of Burgundy's most prestigious terroirs. The plots are spread across the villages of Premeaux-Prissey, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée, and Vougeot, giving rise to 16 different appellations, including a majority of Premiers Crus and one Grand Cru, the Clos de Vougeot Montiotes Hautes. The predominantly calcareous and marly-calcareous soils rest on stony subsoils that lend the region's great Pinot Noirs their mineral signature and depth.

Aware that "a good wine can only be made from good grapes", Jérôme Chezeaux applies the principles of integrated pest management and obtained HVE (High Environmental Value) certification in 2021. Vineyard work is rigorous and respectful of natural cycles, with particular care given to ground cover management, yield control, and soil health. The harvest is exclusively manual, with an initial sorting in the vineyard followed by a second sorting on a sorting table in the winery. This exacting approach guarantees the arrival in the cellar of perfectly ripe and healthy grapes — an essential condition for winemaking that truly respects the terroir.

Winemaking at Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux

In the cellar, Jérôme Chezeaux applies traditional Burgundian winemaking methods — precise and minimally interventionist. The harvest is entirely destemmed (100% éraflage), then vatted for a cold maceration lasting 3 to 4 days. The cuvaison then extends over 18 to 21 days, during which manual pigeage and remontage alternate, adjusted according to the vintage and the climat. Fermentations are natural, conducted solely with indigenous yeasts.

After draining the vats and a delicate pressing in a pneumatic press, the wines are placed in oak barrels for a long ageing of 15 to 18 months, or even 18 to 24 months for the Premiers and Grands Crus, during which malolactic fermentation takes place. The proportion of new wood is carefully controlled: around 10% for the Villages, up to 30% for the prestige cuvées such as Les Vaucrains, Les Suchots, and Clos de Vougeot. Only one racking is carried out during ageing, in order to preserve the full aromatic purity of the wine. Bottling generally takes place between February and April.

The Cuvées of Domaine Jérôme Chezeaux

Bourgogne Aligoté: a taut and fresh white wine from the Aligoté grape variety, expressing notes of citrus and white flowers on a dynamic palate. The ideal house aperitif.

Bourgogne Blanc: a confidential Chardonnay from the domaine, marked by great purity, notes of white fruits, and a fresh framework, in the upright and precise style that characterises the house.

Coteaux Bourguignons: an approachable and indulgent red cuvée, a frank expression of Burgundian Pinot Noir, emphasising crunchy red fruit and supple texture.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: a blend sourced from plots in Premeaux-Prissey, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Vosne-Romanée. A rich colour, elegant fruit, a silky palate with a characteristic Côte de Nuits character.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Village: the domaine's emblematic Village cuvée, sourced from the lieu-dits Longecourts, Les Chaliots, Aux Saints-Jacques, Aux Allots, Aux Herbues, and Aux Tuyaux. Intense and powerful, with aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, fur, truffle, and spices, with a perfect balance of tannins and roundness.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charbonnières Vieilles Vignes: sourced from approximately 67.59 ares of 80-year-old vines, this cuvée stands out for its deep colour, expressive aromas of cherries and blackberries, and a full, fleshy, harmonious palate of great aromatic purity.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Saints-Juliens: a refined Village Pinot Noir from 47.57 ares, marked by fresh and delicate aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries, and spiced notes. A tender, well-balanced palate with fine tannins and beautiful harmony.

Vosne-Romanée: a Village cuvée symbolic of elegance, sourced from the lieu-dits Bossières and Basses Maizières. Softness dominates, with discreet tannins, light acidity, and typical aromas of cherry, strawberry, and undergrowth, with remarkable persistence.

Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas: a premium Village wine with an intense and brilliant garnet colour, featuring aromas of peonies, roses, raspberries, and black pepper. A silky, fleshy palate, indulgently cherry-fruited with a fine, lingering finish.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Rue de Chaux: a Premier Cru with a garnet colour, marked by fresh and expressive aromas of red fruits with a fine woody touch, complemented by floral and spiced notes. A dense, harmonious, and dynamic palate with a long finish.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers: a deep and structured Premier Cru, a typical expression of the southern part of Nuits with ripe black fruits, spices, and a firm tannic backbone, built for ageing.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains: sourced from a rich, heavy, stony, and slightly calcareous soil, this Premier Cru of 26.47 ares produces a wine with a deep colour and a powerful nose. Firm tannins that demand patience, an imposing structure, remarkable depth. Considered by enthusiasts as an "unofficial" Grand Cru of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots: a Premier Cru of 34.32 ares located on the Vosne-Romanée side, at the boundary between the two villages. Expressive, rich, and precise aromas of well-ripened black fruits. A concentrated, velvety, and tender palate with fine length and remarkable finesse, a close cousin of the great Vosne wines.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes: a sublime Premier Cru situated just below La Tâche and Les Malconsorts, on a vein of limestone and marls. The wine marries the exotic spice and indulgent flesh of Vosne with the mineral power of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Notes of plums, black cherries, mint, violets, and spices.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots: the flagship wine of the domaine, sourced from 17.54 ares at the heart of the Grand Cru "high rent district", between Romanée Saint-Vivant, Echezeaux, and Richebourg. A full-bodied, fragrant, and highly elegant wine with complex aromas of black fruits, violets, and cocoa, with fine and delicate tannins, remarkable length and intensity.

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Montiotes Hautes: the domaine's only Grand Cru, located on the upper part of the Clos, in front of the Abbey. An ample and fleshy wine, displaying a fine balance between refined tannins, softness, and discreet acidity. An exceptional aromatic bouquet, thoroughbred and harmonious, built for very long cellaring.