Description
Following the purchase of the former Pierre Naigeon domaine in 2019, Jean-Marie Chapier, a medical biologist, and wife Isabelle, a pharmacist, are doing everything possible to relaunch and reposition Domaine les Astrelles. A new team is in place, and among its members leading the winemaking is Julien Millet – son of François Millet, the former cellar master of the Comte Georges de Vogüé. Julien brings a wealth of winemaking experience, including experience in Australia, New Zealand and alongside his father previously at de Vogüé as well as their eponymous family operations François Millet et Fils.
Today, Domaine Les Astrelles consists of 14 hectares of estate vineyards located in numerous climats of Gevrey-Chambertin, Marsannay, and Fixin, with a focus on organic farming, along with additionally sourced parcels from like minded growers. To highlight the true individuality of terroir, a gentle hand is exercised in the cellar. The reds are entirely destemmed, and treated with an approach of infusion, rather than extraction, with gentle pump overs preferred over punch downs. Whites see fermentation in a combination of oak, acacia, and clayver. New oak usage is kept to a minimum, with around 15 months ageing for both the whites and reds.
