DOMAINE ROBERT GROFFIER
Nicolas Groffier
The Groffier family has a long history of winemaking in the Côte de Nuits, dating back to the 19th century with Frédéric Groffier. Two generations later, Robert Groffier began bottling the wines at the Domaine. Although the Domaine consistently produced fine and elegant wines, it remained relatively unknown until 2006, when Nicolas Groffier took over from his grandfather Robert and father Serge. With firm opinions and a commitment to quality, Nicolas has elevated the wines to new heights, refining their style while staying true to family traditions and expertise.
The Groffier residence and cellars are located at the southern end of Morey-Saint-Denis, yet the Domaine doesn't own any vineyards in Morey. Instead, it owns nearly 8 hectares of prime vineyards, including 1 hectare of Bonnes Mares and almost 0.5 hectares of Chambertin Clos de Bèze. In Chambolle Musigny, the Domaine owns three Premiers Crus: les Hauts Doix, les Sentiers, and the renowned Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru les Amoureuses. Groffier is the largest single owner of Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, with a full hectare of this vineyard.
The Groffier family has a long history of winemaking in the Côte de Nuits, dating back to the 19th century with Frédéric Groffier. Two generations later, Robert Groffier began bottling the wines at the Domaine. Although the Domaine consistently produced fine and elegant wines, it remained relatively unknown until 2006, when Nicolas Groffier took over from his grandfather Robert and father Serge. With firm opinions and a commitment to quality, Nicolas has elevated the wines to new heights, refining their style while staying true to family traditions and expertise.
The Groffier residence and cellars are located at the southern end of Morey-Saint-Denis, yet the Domaine doesn't own any vineyards in Morey. Instead, it owns nearly 8 hectares of prime vineyards, including 1 hectare of Bonnes Mares and almost 0.5 hectares of Chambertin Clos de Bèze. In Chambolle Musigny, the Domaine owns three Premiers Crus: les Hauts Doix, les Sentiers, and the renowned Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru les Amoureuses. Groffier is the largest single owner of Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, with a full hectare of this vineyard.
A high proportion of old vines, aged 40 years and more, planted in prime locations, and constant attention to the vines during the growing season all contribute to the excellence of the Groffier estate. The vineyards are farmed sustainably, with Nicolas dedicating significant energy to meticulously managing the vines throughout the year to control yields and produce ripe, concentrated grapes. Late pruning using the old Cordon de Royat method, soil plowing, and rigorous de-budding are all part of the cultivation process.
During harvest, the grapes are handpicked and undergo a thorough selection both in the vineyard and at the sorting table. The winemaking technique is adaptable, with the proportion of stems retained depending on the vintage and cuvée. Currently, only up to 20% of stems are retained, compared to 50% twenty years ago. After destemming, the grapes are transferred to stainless-steel vats without crushing and cooled to 10-12 degrees to delay the start of natural yeast fermentation for 4-5 days, allowing for further color extraction from the skins. Frequent short pigeages are performed.
During harvest, the grapes are handpicked and undergo a thorough selection both in the vineyard and at the sorting table. The winemaking technique is adaptable, with the proportion of stems retained depending on the vintage and cuvée. Currently, only up to 20% of stems are retained, compared to 50% twenty years ago. After destemming, the grapes are transferred to stainless-steel vats without crushing and cooled to 10-12 degrees to delay the start of natural yeast fermentation for 4-5 days, allowing for further color extraction from the skins. Frequent short pigeages are performed.
The wines are then moved to barrels, with Nicolas reducing the use of new oak to between 15% and 25% for all wines, except for the Clos de Bèze, which is aged in a new barrel. The wines are only racked once, usually a year after the vintage. After about a year of aging and when the new vintage is put into barrels, the wines are transferred back to stainless-steel vats before being bottled. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.
REGION OF PRODUCTION
Burgundy-France
APPELLATION
Bourgogne, Chambolle Mussigny, Gevrey-Chambertin
FOUNDED
19th Century
VINEYARD
8 ha
CLIMATE
Continental Climate
SOIL COMPOSITION
Clay and Limestone
VARIETIES GROWN
Pinot Noir
AGRICULTURE
Sustainable