Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron Chambolle-Musigny 2019

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron

Sophie Confuron and husband Alain Meunier assumed control of this wonderful Domaine from Sophie’s father, Jean-Jacques Confuron in 1988. Gradually they are handing it over to their son Louis.

The domaine goes back to the marriage in 1926 of Jean Confuron de Vosne and Anne-Marie Bouchard de Premeaux, starting with the vines that they both inherited. Together, they acquired more and started selling their own bottled wine in the early 1930s. Jean died in 1965. They had two sons, Christian and Jean-Jacques, who worked together until 1980. Jean-Jacques set up his own estate in 1981, but he died in January 1983. From then on it was his wife Andrée Noëllat and his daughter Sophie who took care of the estate. Sophie met Alain Meunier at the Lycée agricole in Beaune and from the 1985 harvest they worked together. In 1988, Andrée received one hectare of vines from her grandfather Charles Noëllat’s domaine, which included the important parcels in Romanée St-Vivant, Nuits Boudots and Vosne Beaux Monts.

Although they have been organic since the 1990’s Louis is concerned that the soils are still not in the best of health, so he is trying grassing over – but is concerned that this can mean competition for the vines and lower yields. In general he’s trying to improve biodiversity in the vineyards, but says that they are going at it by feel, with small changes to see what works – a very practical hands-on approach. He spends 80% of his time tending the vines, and is working to make the plants more resistant to disease and rot.

In the Vineyard

Belonging to the new generation of Burgundian’s their philosophy is ‘biologique’ and their vineyards are ploughed by horse. Although they have been organic since the 1990’s Louis is concerned that the soils are still not in the best of health, so he is trying grassing over – but is concerned that this can mean competition for the vines and lower yields. In general he’s trying to improve biodiversity in the vineyards, but says that they are going at it by feel, with small changes to see what works – a very practical hands-on approach. He spends 80% of his time tending the vines, and is working to make the plants more resistant to disease and rot.

In the Winery

In recent years their son Louis joined the business adding another exciting dynamic. Since Louis has taken over the winemaking there have been some changes, but as they have no fixed ‘recipe’ it is hard to be precise – the levels of new wood seem to have dropped slightly, and like a lot of growers Louis has used some whole-bunch fermentation, softer handling of fruit, and a power sulphur regime. On the whole they are relatively early pickers, and the wines have a generous depth of fruit.

The 2019 Vintage at Jean-Jacques Confuron

“Louis notes that 2019 was very hot and quite dry though not as dry as 2020. We picked from the 10th of September and happily the fruit was essentially spotless so there was very little sorting necessary. Yields averaged right at 30 hl/ha but that hides the reality that they were quite disparate, which is to say they ranged from a low of 20 hl/ha to a high of 40 hl/ha. Potential alcohols were very good but not  really high at between 13 to 13.8%. I used from 15 to 30% whole clusters for most wines though two had 50% for the vinifications that had no problems finishing the sugars. As to the style of the 2019s, they’re definitely the product of a ripe and warm vintage yet they offer good freshness and they’re already a pleasure to drink.”

Allen Meadows, Burghound

Where in the World is Jean-Jacques Confuron?

Jean-Jacques Confuron is located in Premeaux-Pressey just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges. They have holdings in Nuit-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and Vougeot. This wine comes from Chambolle-Musigny.