Frédéric Esmonin

History of Domaine Frédéric Esmonin

The Esmonin family has cultivated vines in Gevrey-Chambertin for several generations, long selling their grapes to the great négociant houses such as Drouhin, Jadot and Leroy. Destined to take over his father André's vines, Frédéric Esmonin completed his viticulture and oenology degree in Beaune before becoming a négociant, with his own father as his main client. The turning point came in 1988, the year of his first vintage under his own name, from the Estournelles climat.

In 2003, Frédéric bought back the 4.5 hectares of family vines and gave the estate its full identity, in a true family affair with his father André and his mother Michèle. The estate today produces approximately 22,000 bottles from its own vines, complemented by a négociant activity of around 40,000 bottles which gives access to great terroirs. Half of the production is exported, notably to the United States and Japan, where the wines enjoy an excellent reputation. Praised by critics for the balance and complexity of its wines, the estate remains a reliable and still accessible reference.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Frédéric Esmonin

The vineyard is rooted in the clay-limestone terroirs of Gevrey-Chambertin, the largest commune in the Côte de Nuits, renowned for its structured wines built for ageing. The estate is fortunate to own or vinify some of the finest parcels in the area, with old vines of over 50 years in Ruchottes-Chambertin and over 40 years in Mazis-Chambertin, as well as prestigious premiers crus of Gevrey such as Estournelles Saint-Jacques, Lavaux Saint-Jacques and Les Champonnets.

The grape variety here is Pinot Noir, king of the Côte de Nuits, expressed from regional level through to the finest grand crus. In the vineyard, Frédéric Esmonin works impeccably, with a heartfelt commitment to restoring the microbial life of his soils. To this end, he uses 100% natural compost, has abandoned herbicides and allows vegetation to establish itself between the rows, in an ecological approach that respects biodiversity and the expression of terroir.

Vinifications of Domaine Frédéric Esmonin

The winemaking aims above all for finesse, without ever compromising on the character of the terroirs. Harvesting is done by hand, carried out by a loyal team of thirty to thirty-five pickers, often the same individuals for decades, in order to sort as carefully as possible. After destemming, a cold maceration of four to five days adds an extra dimension of fruit to the wine, while gentle pressing using a pneumatic press preserves the freshness of the grapes.

The ageing, conducted with great delicacy to avoid any over-extraction, lasts from fourteen to sixteen months in French oak barrels from the Allier and Nevers forests, crafted by leading coopers, with a proportion of up to 66% new wood for the grand crus. The wines are aged in barrels of varying ages and toasting levels, then blended to achieve the desired balance and complexity. The result is Burgundies rich in colour, deep and concentrated, yet always chiselled by beautiful acidity and silky tannins — a promise of long ageing.

The Cuvées of Domaine Frédéric Esmonin

Chambertin Grand Cru: the pinnacle of the appellation, this Pinot Noir of legendary power and depth combines structure, complexity and exceptional ageing potential. A mythical grand cru of the Côte de Nuits.

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru: an immediate neighbour of Chambertin, it seduces with its finesse and charm, on silky tannins and a floral and spiced bouquet of great elegance.

Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru: from vines over 40 years old, this grand cru reveals power, density and a beautiful minerality, with aromas of dark fruits and spices. Built for ageing.

Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru: produced from old vines over 50 years of age, this is one of the jewels of the estate. Refined and precisely chiselled, it combines aromatic finesse, tension and remarkable length.

Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru: a small, rare and confidential grand cru, it lives up to its name with its aromas of morello cherry and red fruits, in an elegant, refined and delicately perfumed style.

Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: an entirely seductive grand cru, it offers roundness, suppleness and a luscious fruitiness, with well-integrated tannins and an ample palate. It proves more approachable at a younger age than its neighbours.

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: an emblem of the Côte de Nuits, this powerful and fleshy grand cru unfolds a dense structure, well-built tannins and a complex bouquet of dark fruits, spices and undergrowth.

Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru: a rare cuvée straddling Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis, it marries structural power with great elegance, yielding a deep wine destined for a very long ageing.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Estournelles Saint-Jacques: the cradle of the estate, this refined premier cru combines finesse and character, with a sappy fruit, beautiful floral notes and a polished acidic backbone.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques: a neighbour of Estournelles, this great premier cru stands out for its depth, its minerality and its length, in a style that is both powerful and elegant.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champonnets: a vivid ruby colour, it seduces with its red and black fruits such as strawberry and blackberry and its floral notes of rose and violet, on a firm structure with silky, well-integrated tannins.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Hauts Pruliers: a premier cru from Nuits-Saint-Georges, this wine combines richness, finesse and a beautiful amplitude, carried by ripe tannins and a deep fruitiness.

Gevrey-Chambertin: the core cuvée of the range, it expresses the character of the village with precision, on aromas of cherry and red fruits, a fresh palate and refined tannins.

Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Les Jouises: from old vines, this village cuvée gains in density and complexity, combining substance, fruit and a beautiful depth.

Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur: a lieu-dit located to the south of the village, not far from Mazis-Chambertin, it offers a structured and perfumed Gevrey, with notes of strawberry, raspberry and delicate hints of undergrowth.

Côte de Nuits-Villages La Belle Vue: a fine entry point into the Côte de Nuits, this indulgent and fruity red charms with its freshness and balance, best enjoyed in its youth.

Pernand-Vergelesses Les Boutières: a foray into the Côte de Beaune, this supple and fruity Pinot Noir charms with its finesse and immediate drinkability.

Bourgogne Rouge Les Genévrières: an accessible and refined Burgundy, with crunchy red fruit and a beautiful freshness, reflecting the estate's expertise at an attractive price.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits: a fresh and easy-drinking red from the heights of the Côte de Nuits, indulgent and fruity, ideal for discovering the house style.