Domaine Joblot 2023
On Wednesday, we explored a fantastic "secret" Gevrey-Chambertin from Henri Magnien—a wine that showcases the power and pedigree of the Côte de Nuits. (It sold out by 9 AM, so my apologies to those who missed it!)
Today, we continue our search for incredible value, but we travel 45 minutes south to the Côte Chalonnaise and the benchmark domaine of Givry (not to be confused with Gevrey), Domaine Joblot.
Back in 1997, on one of my earlier visits to Burgundy, I discovered the magic of Givry, a village with a pedigree stretching back to King Henri IV, who reputedly favored its wines, and the remarkable wines of Domaine Joblot. To be honest, I barely knew where Givry was, let alone that they grew Pinot Noir that far south.
What struck me most about that visit wasn't just the welcoming hospitality, but the paradox of the winery itself: a brand new, state-of-the-art Coquard pneumatic press inside a very non-descript building. I remember thinking, "How can a small domaine getting less than 20 euros a bottle afford this?"
The answer, I soon realized, was in the glass. I had just come from two days of tasting the 1996 vintage in the Côte de Nuits—a year famous for its searing acidity and formidable tannins. Finding the beautifully ripe fruit of Joblot's wines was a revelation. It wasn't a knock on the Côte de Nuits (as Wednesday’s email proved, I’m a disciple!), but a powerful lesson in how different terroirs express a challenging vintage. Here, in Givry, I could taste pure fruit, unobscured by overwhelming structure. The wines simply spoke for themselves.
Nearly three decades later, I can say Domaine Joblot will always have special place in my heart. I’ve been following them closely, and while some faces have changed, they remain some of the most enjoyable and honest Burgundy wines you can buy without spending a fortune.
That enduring quality is why I’m so excited to offer what are arguably the domaine’s two most recognized and celebrated Premier Crus: Givry 1er Cru "Servoisine" and Givry 1er Cru "Cellier Aux Moines."
For anyone who doesn’t know these wines, take note. This is the domaine that essentially put Givry on the map, and you would be hard-pressed to find another Burgundy that delivers more soul and satisfaction at this ~$50 price point.
Here too the nose is completely dominated by pungent oak and reduction. The delicious and vibrant medium weight flavors possess a beguilingly supple, even velvety, texture that contrasts moderately with the dusty, firm, and youthfully austere bitter pit fruit-inflected finale. This is also lovely and understated.
- Burghound 90-92 Sweet Spot Outstanding!
This is also pretty aromatically raw with a similar nose of firm reduction and wood toast. On the palate though there is again good verve and freshness to the less dense but finer middle weight flavors that exude more evident minerality on the equally firm, dusty and lightly austere finale. Lovely and understated.
- Burghound, 90-92 Sweet Spot Outstanding
