Christian Sérafin
Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy
Wine Maker: Christian Sérafin, Frederique Bachotet

Christian Sérafin drawing a sample. (pic. Euan McKay)

The reserved and considered son of a Polish immigrant Christian Sérafin holds a stunning suite of fabulous vineyards which produce intense and structured Cote de Nuits reds which command a fair swathe of new oak. The fruit concentration from low yields and a propensity to harvest late is such that the wines easily handle the oak regime. The Sérafin wines are also structured firmly with appropriately powerful tannin and acid levels and as such are generally best consumed after ten years cellaring.

The vineyards are managed biologically with no regular application of systemic herbicides or pesticides. The vinification is both simple and natural with no artificial yeasts or enzymes, done in stainless steel. They are not racked until they are homogenized prior to bottling, nor are they fined or filtered.

There are two main oak producers used, François Frère and Taransaud of which the Bourgogne receives 50% new, the village Gevrey 70% new with the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes, the Premiers Cru’s and the Grand Cru 100% new oak.

“I have always very much admired the Serafin wines as being one of the most successful domaines to combine old school techniques with 100% new wood and make it work, both in terms of transparency of terroir but also of producing balanced, pure and serious wines. As good as the Serafin 2005s are, and they are indeed excellent, his ‘04s are every bit as successful in the context of that vintage and it could be argued perhaps even more so.” Bughound

“Exuberant, lavishly flavored red burgundies are the speciality of Gevrey-based Christian Sérafin, achieved by low yields, late harvesting and ample new oak. Sérafin’s Charmes-Chambertin is a reference bottle.” Andrew Jefford

“This is a splendid address.” Clive Coates, MW

Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Vieilles Vignes’
“Here the very fresh and distinctly sauvage nose speaks of primarily dark berry fruit aromas that lead to richer and riper medium-bodied flavors that are mouth coating, serious and sappy as the old vines character is well and truly in evidence, particularly with respect to the structural elements on the long, balanced and energetic finish. A very high quality villages. 90, Outstanding.” Burghound

Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Vieilles Vignes’
“Here the nose is not only slightly riper but it’s also notably more complex with sauvage and stone notes on the pungently earthy dark berry fruit aromas.  The dense and altogether serious middle weight flavors are shaped by the very firm, indeed almost chewy, tannins on the extract-rich and palate staining finish.  This moderately rustic wine is typically one of the best bets in the Serafin portfolio and I highly recommend the 2009 version to you. 90.” Burghound

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Les Corbeaux’
“Mild reduction knocks down the nose somewhat so be sure to decant this if you’re going to try a bottle young. Otherwise, there is good freshness and vibrancy to the earthy and slightly animale middle weight flavors that possess a mildly more refined tannic spine and a superbly long finish. I very much like the overall sense of depth and this is very Corbeaux as the hallmark sauvage character is quite strong. 91. Outstanding.” Burghound

Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru ‘Les Millandes’
“A completely different expression as there is a bit less aromatic elegance but more complexity to the layered and discreetly earthy red berry fruit aromas that precede the equally stony and beautifully detailed middle weight flavors that offer excellent intensity but the primary structural difference between this and the Baudes is the longer finish.  Lovely and harmonious with very ripe phenolics that should permit this to age very well. Outstanding. 92/2018+” Burghound

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Le Fonteny’
“Here the nose is clean and fresh with a discreet touch of wood framing overtly earthy and attractively layered dark berry fruit aromas that possess a hint of animale that can also be discerned on the rich, full and mouth coating flavors that possess obvious volume and punch plus I like the texture of the vibrant finish that offers fine depth and length. The other aspect that I like is all of the Gevrey character this exudes. In a word, lovely. 91 points.” Burghound

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Le Fonteny’
“Airier and more refined with a pretty mix of very fresh red berry fruit that is cut with hints of earth and humus that continue onto the precise and pure flavors that possess a firm minerality that continues onto the energetic, balanced and impressively long finish. A choice. 91 points.” Burghound

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru ‘Les Baudes’
“A deft touch of wood adds nuance to the otherwise elegant and pure red and blue berry fruit aromas that display a lovely touch of violets that serve as a graceful introduction to the slightly earthy, rich and impressively full flavors that display a sleek muscularity on the mineral-suffused, intense and solidly deep and long finish. This is a classic Baudes where the nose is refined and the body and finish recall the vineyard’s direct proximity to Bonnes Mares and like its neighbor, this will need up to a decade to be at its best. 92 points. Outstatanding.” Burghound

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Les Cazetiers’
Quite simply this is consistently the best ‘Cazetiers’ produced.

2009 Charmes-Chambertin, Grand Cru
“The 2009 Charmes-Chambertin is striking, even if it is an infant today. Graceful and weightless through to the finish, the 2009 impresses for its balance, freshness and overall sense of structure. This is far from and easygoing 2009. It will require at least a decade to enter the early part of its drinking window. Here, too the integration of fruit and structure is superb. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034. 95+” Antonio Galloni

Pruning, 1er Cru Gevrey ‘Les Cazetiers’. (pic. Euan McKay)