For more than 180 years the love of wine has been passed on from one Faiveley generation to the next. The Domaine has remained in the same family and always completely independent. Today Erwan Faiveley is one of the youngest directors of a Burgundy Domaine on record. Erwan is keen to respect the traditions and savoir-faire of the Faiveley family, while paying great attention to the professionals around him, as his vision for the future begins to take shape.
Winemaking
The Faiveleys firmly believe that the quality of the wine comes first from the fruit. Faiveley keep yields to a minimum through the controlled use of organic fertiliser and strict pruning. The development of rootstocks suited to specific soil types together with a high average vine age in the Faiveley vineyards also contributes to low yields. The finished wines are classic Burgundies with wonderful longevity, aromatics and a unique, elegant style.
Vineyards
Domaine Faiveley is one of the largest vineyard owners in Burgundy. Almost self-sufficient, Faiveley makes 80% of its wines with fruit grown in the family’s vineyards and nearly all of its Côte d’Or wines. The family’s policy of buying premium land over the span of seven generations means that Faiveley today owns vineyards in the most prestigious Crus: Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Mazis-Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Latricières-Chambertin, Musigny, Echézeaux and Clos Vougeot – the jewels of Burgundy – producing rare and precious wines.
Faiveley now owns a total of 125 hectares including 30 hectares in Côte de Nuits, 15 hectares in Côte de Beaune and 75 hectares in Côte Chalonnaise. These vineyard holdings include 10 Grand Crus and 20 Premier Crus spread over 16 villages. In the Côte Chalonnaise, Faiveley owns one of the largest Domaines in Mercurey.
Mercurey “Le Clos du Roy”
This Côte Chalonnaise village gets its name from the God Mercury (God of Merchants). As the name of the wine indicates, this clos formerly belonged to the Kings of France.
Puligny-Montrachet, “La Garenne”
In 1879, Puligny added its name to that of its more renowned Grand Cru: Montrachet. The “La Garenne” climat covers 9 hectares of vines situated just above”Champ Gain” on the upper parts of the hillside. The name of this parcel (Garenne or Varenne) was a term used in the Middle Ages to refer to a wooden area where hunting was reserved for the Lord. In September 2012, the press discovered that the United Kingdom was soon to have an heir when the Duchess of Cambridge – Kate Middleton – declined a glass of their Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “La Garenne”.
Monopoles
Through careful planning and acquisition, the Domaine has managed to purchase or acquire eight monopole vineyards. These comprise 38% of the Domaine’s total vineyards, including, in the Côte de Beaune: Beaune Clos de l’Ecu Premier Cru and Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru; in the Côte de Nuits: Gevrey-Chambertin Clos des Issarts Premier Cru and in the Côte Chalonnaise: Mercurey Clos des Myglands Premier Cru, Mercurey La Framboisière and Mercurey Clos Rochette.
Beaune “Clos de L’Ecu
The appellation ‘Clos de l’Ecu’ most probably comes from the Middle Ages: this clos or walled vineyard allowed the owners to pay the taxes they owed the Dukes of Burgundy, in the unit of currency of the time the ‘Ecu’. This monopole or single-estate vineyard of Domaine Faiveley, was acquired in 2003.
Mercurey “Clos des Myglands”
The name of this Premier Cru, which is a monopole or single estate vineyard of Domaine Faiveley, probably comes from the English ‘My Lands’, the name given to this site by an English dignitary.