René Bouvier Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France 2022

Domaine René Bouvier, based in Gevrey-Chambertin, is renowned for crafting expressive, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from some of the Côte de Nuits’ most emblematic villages. Under the direction of Bernard Bouvier since the 1990s, the domaine has embraced organic farming and low-intervention winemaking to highlight the purity and nuance of each site. Their Gevrey-Chambertin cuvée offers a classic, unadorned expression of the appellation’s depth and mineral precision.

• WINEMAKER: Bernard Bouvier

• FARMING: Certified Organic

• VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir

• TERROIR: Sourced from multiple parcels around Gevrey-Chambertin on well-drained limestone and clay soils. Vines average 50 years of age, contributing depth and concentration to the wine.

• VINIFICATION: Indigenous yeast fermentation in open wooden vats with gentle pigeage and remontage; partial whole-cluster fermentation depending on vintage conditions.

• AGING: Aged 16–18 months in French oak barrels, ~30% new, to build complexity without obscuring site character.

• TASTING NOTES: Aromas of black cherry, crushed violets, subtle spice, and forest floor. The palate is layered and focused, with ripe red and black fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a long, mineral-laced finish that speaks clearly of Gevrey’s limestone terroir.

• FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with duck breast, roast quail, mushroom dishes, or Comté cheese.

From Our 2025 Bottle Cult Notes:

Some wines arrive with flash. Others, like Domaine René Bouvier’s Gevrey-Chambertin, arrive with a quiet, grounded sense of purpose—like they’ve been here all along, just waiting for you to notice. There’s something deeply comforting about a wine that doesn’t chase trends but instead leans into time, terroir, and tradition. And in this case, that tradition runs deep.

The Bouvier family’s winemaking story begins in 1910, when Henri Bouvier established the estate in Marsannay. His son René took the reins in the 1950s, expanding the holdings through careful acquisition. By 1992, when Bernard Bouvier stepped in, the domaine was poised for a new chapter—one focused on elevating quality through meticulous vineyard work, thoughtful winemaking, and a deep respect for site. Over the years, Bernard added key parcels in Gevrey-Chambertin and Marsannay and introduced a host of cellar upgrades, including gravity-fed fermentations and the use of concrete eggs and demi-muids for aging. In 2013, after years of practicing sustainable farming, the domaine became officially certified organic.

This Gevrey-Chambertin cuvée is the product of that generational vision. Sourced from old-vine parcels across the appellation on classic limestone and clay soils, the wine is fermented with native yeasts in open wooden vats, using gentle pigeage (gentle foot-pressing of the ‘cap’ of grape skins during fermentation) and remontage (pumping wine over the cap). It then ages for 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, roughly 30% new—just enough to frame the wine without overshadowing its origin.

2022 was a great vintage for the domaine, presenting even weather and steady summer warmth until the early September harvest. In the glass, the wine speaks clearly of Gevrey: aromas of dark cherry, crushed violets, forest floor, and subtle spice. The palate is juicy and composed, with layered red and black fruit, fine tannins, a richly herbal spice and a mineral-driven finish. It can be enjoyed not with a bit of decanting, or aged for up to 7-10 years if you hope to enjoy the earthier qualities of the wine. Young or maturing, this wine has a lot to offer! 

Pair it with roast duck, mushroom risotto, or a wedge of Comté, and you’ll understand why this estate has quietly earned a place among Burgundy’s most respected voices. A Pinot Noir that’s both soulful and precise, and a true expression of Gevrey’s depth and restraint.  —Simi Grewal, DECANT Co-Founder