Les Astrelles

History of Domaine Les Astrelles

The estate’s history is intertwined with that of the Naigeon family. In 1996, Pierre Naigeon took over his father’s estate, then reduced to just one hectare. He patiently expanded it into a property of around ten hectares across some of the best sites in Gevrey-Chambertin and neighboring villages. In late 2019, the estate was purchased by Jean-Marie Chapier, a physician specializing in biology, and his wife Isabelle, a pharmacist. The couple had discovered winemaking in the Bergerac region before choosing Burgundy.

Renamed Les Astrelles, the estate has a new team. Since April 2020, winemaking has been entrusted to Julien Millet, son of François Millet, who was cellar master at Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé for many years. A new winery completes this renewal. The first vintage, 2020, has won critical acclaim.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Les Astrelles

The vineyard covers around fourteen hectares, divided among numerous climats in Gevrey-Chambertin, Marsannay, Fixin, and the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. It stretches from the high slopes of Segrois, where Aligoté and Chardonnay grow, to the Mazis-Chambertin (Les Mazis Hauts) and Bonnes-Mares Grands Crus. Some vines are very old, including the Fixin Les Hervelets plot planted in 1936 and 1937. To round out its range, the estate buys grapes from partner growers in both the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune.

The vines are farmed organically. Yields have been reduced, and monitoring of the plots has been intensified. The estate vinifies each climat separately, sometimes in cuvées of just a few hundred bottles, to reveal the diversity of the Côte de Nuits’ clay-limestone terroirs.

Winemaking at Domaine Les Astrelles

The grapes are hand-harvested into small crates, then carefully sorted. For the reds, the grapes are fully destemmed and moved by gravity into tanks or ceramic jars. They then ferment with indigenous yeasts. Julien Millet favors infusion over extraction: gentle pump-overs almost entirely replace punch-downs, with temperature-controlled macerations lasting around fifteen to twenty days.

The whites ferment in a combination of oak barrels, acacia barrels, and ceramic jars, without lees stirring, to preserve freshness and purity. The wines are aged for around fifteen months, with very little new oak, reserved for the most prestigious cuvées. The result is elegant, vibrant wines with bright fruit and silky tannins.

The Wines of Domaine Les Astrelles

Bourgogne Aligoté En Riottes: from the heights of Segrois, this lively, finely etched Aligoté offers citrus notes and appealing saline tension.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc Les Martennes: this Chardonnay comes from an organically farmed plot at 345 meters. Fresh, precise, and mineral, it is produced in very small quantities.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc: this distinctive cuvée blends Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. It produces an aromatic, rounded white with delicate fruit notes.

Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc: this elegant, mineral Chardonnay from the Côte de Beaune combines white fruit with freshness.

Ladoix 1er Cru Les Grechons: grown on Comblanchien limestone, this white premier cru impresses with its structure, precision, and length.

Meursault Les Pellands: this flavorful, balanced Meursault pairs richness with lively freshness.

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains La Riotte: this equal blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay produces a lively, concentrated, and inviting red.

Bourgogne Rouge Les Maladières: fruity and supple, this regional Pinot Noir is ideal for everyday enjoyment.

Bourgogne Rouge Grands Champs: dense and elegant, this single-plot Bourgogne far exceeds expectations for its appellation.

Bourgogne Rouge Les Combes: this red offers open, vibrant fruit, silky tannins, and lovely ripeness.

Bourgogne Rouge Vieilles Vignes: made from old vines, this concentrated Pinot Noir offers impressive depth.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge: from the steep slopes of Segrois, this fresh, spicy red expresses the vibrancy of its high-altitude setting.

Marsannay Vieilles Vignes: this fleshy, fruity Marsannay draws its concentration from old vines.

Marsannay Les Sampagny: this climat produces a fine, aromatic red with notes of red berries.

Fixin L'Olivier: structured and direct, this Fixin has aromas of black fruit and vibrant energy.

Fixin Les Herbues: fruity and approachable, this red has supple tannins and offers excellent value for money.

Fixin 1er Cru Les Hervelets: from very old vines planted in 1936 and 1937 high on the slope, this profound, distinctive premier cru is built to age.

Aloxe-Corton Les Chaillots: this full-bodied, inviting Côte de Beaune red unfolds notes of black cherry and spice.

Morey-Saint-Denis: this elegant village wine strikes a fine balance between Gevrey’s power and Chambolle’s finesse.

Gevrey-Chambertin: a blend of several climats, including Reniard, Meix Bas, and Les Marchais, this village wine evokes red berries, violet, and spice. It is silky on the palate.

Gevrey-Chambertin En Pallud: midway up the slope below the Les Corbeaux premier cru, this climat yields a rich, generous wine with pure fruit and a pronounced structure.

Gevrey-Chambertin Les Marchais: this climat in the north of the appellation produces a lively, aromatic wine with lovely freshness.

Gevrey-Chambertin En Sylvie: this fine, fruity Gevrey has delicate tannins and a silky texture.

Gevrey-Chambertin En Vosne: this climat produces a balanced red with crisp fruit and spicy notes.

Gevrey-Chambertin Meix Bas: supple and inviting, this wine offers aromas of ripe red fruit and pleasing roundness.

Gevrey-Chambertin Creux Brouillard: made in limited quantities, this fresh, graceful cuvée offers beautifully defined aromas.

Gevrey-Chambertin Les Crais: this stony soil yields a precise, mineral wine with fine tannins.

Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Corvées Vieilles Vignes: these old vines yield a dense, profound wine of impressive complexity.

Gevrey-Chambertin Croix des Champs: delicate and elegant, this village wine shows deep fruit and a more pronounced tannic structure, promising excellent aging potential.

Gevrey-Chambertin Craite Paille: this climat produces a harmonious, aromatic red with a silky finish.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques: aged with a touch of new oak, this renowned premier cru combines freshness, depth, and distinction.

Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru Les Mazis Hauts: from the upper part of this grand cru, it combines power, velvety texture, and great complexity. This is a wine built for long aging.

Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru: the pinnacle of the range. This majestic, profound grand cru combines density, finesse, and remarkable length.