Gautier Desvignes represents the new generation of Givry winemakers, yet he is the fifth generation of his family to run their small domaine, which was established in 1870 and has cellars dating back to the 17th century. Like many producers in the Côte Chalonnaise, Domaine Desvignes used to sell their fruits to the big negociants in the Côte d’Or. Historically, their Pinot Noir clones were selected to deliver volume over quality. So, replanting with Pinot Fin clones – which produce low yields of small berries, resulting in concentrated, high-quality fruit – was the challenge Gautier set his father Eric if he was to take over the domaine one day. By 2013, their 10 hectares were replanted and, after gaining experience in the USA, Gautier began managing the estate in 2016. He has proven that by investing a lot of energy in the vineyard, avoiding chemicals and adapting vinification to better express the site and varietal characteristics, Givry can produce precise and elegant wines as opposed to the more ‘rustic’ and tannic style of old.

White grapes represent just under 20% of plantings in Givry but are gaining in popularity thanks to the quality and affordability of the white wines. Gautier produces a Givry Village Blanc ‘En Chenèves’ which includes 10% Pinot Blanc to complement the Chardonnay. This wine is made in the traditional Burgundian way by fermenting and ageing in old oak barrels, so the wood is better integrated. The result is a rounded wine with stone fruit characters and a lively acidity, thanks to the limestone soils the vines are planted on. Gauthier was unable to produce his Village Blanc or 1er Cru ‘Les Grandes Vignes’ in 2021 due to frost. Instead he produced a unique wine called ‘Les Survivants’, a blend of both Village Blanc and 1er Cru ‘les Grandes Vignes’ which refers to the grapes that survived this devastating frost. The wine has lovely concentration and Gauthier’s signature precision.

The Givry Rouge is a selection of different parcels, each vinified separately in old barrels for 12 months, then blended and aged another four months in tank. The nose is typical of Givry with ripe, dark fruit aromas, while the palate shows good concentration and a fresh finish. The Givry Rouge 1er Cru `Crémillons` 2020 is the first vintage produced since Gautier replanted the vines with Pinot Fin and offers good structure and fruit intensity. For this cuvée, Gautier uses 25% new oak and favours pump overs rather than punch downs to limit the extraction. A delicate wine with length and tension.