Domaine Besson, Givry 1er Cru Grands Pretans 2014

Domaine Xavier Besson is a small estate in the appellation of Givry that has been family owned for 4 generation. The vineyards are grown in clay soil, with a deep bedrock of limestone from vines that are 30 years old on average, with many vines above 50 years old. The fermentation is done with indigenous yeasts after a brief 3-5 day cold maceration. Aging takes place for 12 months in a combination of large 500L and traditional 228L barriques.

Domaine Besson has a history extending back to 1902 and spanning four generations of winemaking. In 1902, Eugene Besson planted 7.58 hectares off vines in Chablis. Today his grandson, Alain, owns the Domaine. Alain's daughter Camille received her diploma of oenology in 2013 and leads their winemaking efforts. These wines are all about pure elegance, stony, minerally, super-clean and complex  They produce a range of wines from the basic to Grand Crus. Every one shows great personality and depth. Like most Burgundy growers, Alain holds a hearty respect for the land. He uses a minimum amount of sprays and fertilizers and takes a non-interventionist approach to farming. He secured some fantastic parcels over the years.