Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru Heresztyn (Domaine) 1998

The Heresztyn family, of Polish origin, arrived in France in the 1930s. At the time, Jan Heresztyn worked in mines in northern France and then in fields in Burgundy. A connoisseur of Gevrey-Chambertin and feeling very welcome there, he settled and gradually acquired a few plots of vines. By 1959, he had 4 hectares, and over the years the domaine gained notoriety thanks to Jan’s two sons, Stanislas and Bernard. Now both settled on the farm with their wives, they carry on their father’s artisanal know-how: green harvesting, natural grass covering, spreading organic compost, harvesting by hand etc.

Perched at 290 metres above sea level, Le Clos Saint-Denis follows in the tradition of the great wines of Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey Saint-Denis. It requires long ageing (18 months on fine lees) to reveal its full complexity and depth. There are pleasant notes of black berries and even chocolate on the nose, followed by an intense palate and an ample finish. Truly the work of an artist, both in nuance and in balance.