From: Burgundy, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Taste & Critical Acclaim:
91 pt Jasper Morris
The Fixin is a blend of many plots more to the south of the village. This is sensual and supple, gorgeous mid purple, quite floral, certainly sensual, and long. Delicious!
Barrel Sample: 88-91
90 pt Wine Spectator
Richly textured, with good cut framing the cherry, plum, tobacco and spice flavors. Graceful and nicely integrated, with a lingering, spice-tinged finish.
Burghound
An expressive and distinctly earthy nose mixes notes of herbal tea, red and dark berries and a hint of wood influence. There is very good verve to the lightly stony medium weight flavors that conclude in a saline, clean and lengthy if mildly austere finale. To enjoy young. (1/2022)
Pairing: Masculine yet delicate, its tannic structure makes it a worthy partner for good cuts of meat such as braised pork, beef rib steak with parsley, or poultry stews, including their Indian variants (curry, tandoori). However, the delicacy of its aromas and its finish also makes it a candidate for more inventive combinations such as paella, tapas, roasted poultry (especially with gravy), Swedish meatballs (check out the recipe below), and pulled pork sliders. As far as cheese is concerned, it suits the delicacy of a Chaource, the lusciousness of a Comté, or the strong flavors of an Époisses.
Kottbullar (Swedish meatballs)
By Craig Claiborne
About. Domaine Pierre Gelin is the leading wine producer in the small village of Fixin (pronounced “Fees-an”). The domaine has 32 acres within Fixin and in nearby Gevrey-Chambertin, including holdings in five of Fixin’s eight premier crus. They are the monopole owner of one of the very best Fixin premier crus, the Clos Napoléon.
The family domaine was founded in 1925 by its namesake Pierre Gelin and is currently in the hands of Pierre’s grandson, Pierre-Emmanuel. Pierre-Emmanuel farms organically and works to minimize the impact on the environment in both vineyard and cellar. Domaine Pierre Gelin endeavors to produce wines that are “pure and honest.”
Fixin is a quiet village sitting at the northern end of the Côte de Nuits, just a short half-hour drive from the center of Dijon. Fixin became an AOC in 1936 with 222 acres of vines and eight premier crus.
Almost all the village’s production is red, and the wines tend to be robust, structured, and earthy.
Domaine Pierre Gelin owns 32 acres in total, including parcels in five of the Fixin premier crus and the monopole Clos Napoléon. In 1961 Pierre also purchased vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, including the monopole Clos de Meixvelle, Clos Prieur 1er cru, and the Grand Cru Clos de Bèze.
The Gelin family invested in a larger, more efficient winery, which was upgraded and ready for the 2011 harvest. “The new winery allows us more flexibility during harvest, as well as the technology to increase wine quality,” says Pierre-Emmanuel.
The wines of Domaine Pierre Gelin have always been de-stemmed with a long cuvaison of 8-10 days and a judicious use of oak. Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation which takes place in stainless-steel and oak tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel and the wines are aged for 20-24 months in varying percentages of new oak: up to 80% new oak for the Grand Cru, and 25% new for the premier crus. They use older barrels for village wines.
About the region. The Fixin appellation, which received official recognition in 1936, produces both appellations Village and Premier Cru. Production is largely of reds (Pinot Noir) but there are some plots of white (Chardonnay). The reds are what are known as “winter wines” because they need to spend some time in bottle. High-colored, they are a brilliant deep purple or what the Burgundians call “deep mid-red”. The bouquet comprises flower scents (violet, peony), fruits (blackcurrant, Morello cherry, quince), animal scents, musk and pepper. Cherry-pit is also quite common. Often tannic and a little hard in their youth, with age the Fixin acquire a heightened and rounded attack and solid structure. Their fullness is remarkable and their texture delicate.
