Gilles Jourdan established his eponymous domaine in 1998, having looked after the family holdings since 1970, whilst making wine at Bichot in Beaune. Far from the main road, in the village of Corgoloin, Gilles has an engagingly shy, self-effacing manner though he is, unsurprisingly, fiercely proud of his vines and wines. Gilles’ chai is tiny. A central garage-like space is crammed with bottling equipment and a small tasting table, with a bottle cellar to one side and a barrel cellar to the other. Gilles has 40 pickers to call upon at harvest. He tends to harvest later than his neighbours, as demanded by his older, low production vines.
"Following a mild winter, no-one would have anticipated the savage frost at the end of April which immediately reduced potential production severely. The deed was done. June saw a return to benign weather and sunshine. This is a blend of three parcels, creating complexity. The 2016 presents a jet plum colour, to a bramble rim. The nose offers black cherry and wild blackberry with some liquorice notes. There is attractive fruit intensity and structure, chunky tannins enrobed with rounded fruit. Earthy, dark and mineral with coffee-ed notes, dark fruit, layered and long, this has a real sense of place – great value, in fact."
