Domaine Julien Cruchandeau
Region // HAUTES-CÔTES DE NUITS, BURGUNDY
Size // 7 ha
Viticulture // ORGANIC & BIODYNAMIC (NOT CERTIFIED)
Varieties // PINOT NOIR, CHARDONNAY, ALIGOTÉ
Winemakers // JULIEN CRUCHANDEAU
Established // 2003
www.domaine-cruchandeau.com/en/domaine
An ambassador for lesser-known Burgundian appellations, Julien Cruchandeau aspires to elevate the often-overlooked wines of Burgundy, including Bouzeron and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, while also showcasing more familiar villages.
Julien has fashioned an 8-hectare Domaine, despite lacking a familial wine background. Right from the outset, he displayed prescient insight, selecting Aligoté over Chardonnay or Pinot Noir in 2003, procuring a vineyard in Bouzeron at the age of 25. A daring yet precisely judged move two decades ago that positions him as a pioneer in Bouzeron. Aubert De Villaine of DRC endorsed Julien's efforts, bestowing upon him vines from his massale selection. "Massale" - is now the name of Julien’s Bouzeron cuvée.
Julien's ability to anticipate and discern great potential impelled him to permanently establish his winery in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits in 2007 - another audacious step for the period. Today, it stands as one of the sought-after terroirs in elevated altitudes, a testament to the optimal Burgundian growth conditions - his conviction was indeed accurate!
Julien champions a harvest at full maturity (regardless of their potential alcohol level), with organically cultivated grapes, handpicked when they signal their readiness. His wines, crafted as naturally as possible, showcase graceful refinement, equilibrium, fully developed fruit, and exquisite texture.
Ladoix - Single vineyard ‘Les Ranches'
Julien seamlessly merges traditional methodologies with contemporary winemaking techniques. The ageing process varies from eight to 18 months, contingent on the cuvées, either in vats or barrels. Bottling follows a gentle filtration, except for the unfiltered Nuits-Saint-Georges.
His organic practices and hands-off approach yield truly remarkable Burgundy Aligotés, Pinot Noirs, and Chardonnays that offer exceptional value; redolent, vibrant, invigorating, and gracefully expressive of their origin.
Julien's unwavering commitment to showcasing these less-heralded wines resonates in every bottle, inviting discovery of the concealed treasures of Burgundy. He is also a member of the Aligoteurs Association.
A fun fact - before becoming an artist of winemaking, Julien was an electronic music artist - he created a record label, Guls Records, and toured for 6 years around the world with the group Shrink Orchestra performing 200 concerts!
Les vins de Julien Cruchandeau
BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ, LE VILLAGE (2021)
Style: White
Variety: 100% Aligoté
Abv: 12.5%
Region: Hautes Côte de Nuits
Terroir: 'Le Village' is the name of the single plot (40 acres/2000 bottles produced per year) located in the heart of the village of Chaux where Julien's winery is established.
Winemaking: 10 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks
Tasting notes:
BOUZERON (2021)
Style: White
Variety: 100% Aligoté
Abv: 12.5%
Region: Côte Chalonnaise, Bouzeron
Terroir:
Winemaking: 12 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks (80%) and in old French barrels (20%)
Tasting notes:
SAINT AUBIN 1er CRU, L'AMANDIER (2022)
Style: White
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Abv: 13.5%
Region: Côte de Beaune, Saint Aubin
Terroir : A blend of two terroirs, "La Chatenière" with a south-facing exposure at an altitude of 240 meters, and "Les Champlots" on slopes with a southwest exposure. The soils are chalky and clayey.
Manual harvesting in perforated crates and hand-sorted.
Winemaking: between 12 and 15 months in oak barrels (20% new barrels). The fermentation takes place in barrels.
PULIGNY MONTRACHET 1er CRU, HAMEAU DE BLAGNY, CHARDONNAY (2022)
Style: White
This appellation has a rich history of its own. Located between Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, the Hamlet of Blagny sits on lands that were already valued by Cistercian monks in the 12th century.
Terroir: The 53 yo vines are planted East-facing at an altitude of 320 meters. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in stones, making it very well-draining.
Winemaking: Between 12 and 15 months in oak barrels (30% new barrels). Fermentation: The fermentation takes place in barrels. Manual harvesting in perforated crates and hand-sorted.
Tasting notes: A supple wine that pairs perfectly with grilled meats and aged cheeses. A complex nose with floral notes (hawthorn, verbena), fruity notes (lemongrass), and milky notes (brioche). A mineral palate.
Serve between 12°C and 14°C. Aging potential: Between 5 and 10 years.
LADOIX, LES RANCHES (2021)
Style: Red
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Abv: 13%
Region: Ladoix, Côte de Beaune
Terroir: Les Ranches’, taking its name from ‘Ronces’ (brambles) and ‘Branches’ (branches) is a unique single plot located exactly where Côte de Nuits ends, and Côte de Beaune begins. The vines were planted in 1980.This cuvée shows the Ladoix village appellation at its best, as the vineyard is planted on the Corton slopes where the famous Corton and Corton Charlemagne wines are made.
Winemaking: Maturation : 15 months in French oak barrels (20% new oak)
Tasting notes:
NUITS SAINT GEORGES, AUX SAINTS JACQUES, VIELLES VIGNES (2022)
Style: Red
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Abv: 13%
Region: Nuits Saint Georges, Côte de Nuits
Terroir: Les Saint Jacques, a climate located at the foot of the slope on the border of the Vosne Romanée appellation and under the first crus, with an east-facing exposure at an altitude of 240 meters. The soil is limestone with fairly deep earth.
Winemaking: Between 12 and 18 months in oak barrels (30% new barrels, 30% 1-year-old barrels, 30% barrels over two years old). Fermentation: Partially destemmed grapes, followed by a maceration of 3 to 6 weeks depending on the vintage, with no punching down and frequent pump-overs.
Serve between 16°C and 18°C.
Aging potential: Between 5 and 15 years.
SAVIGNY LES BEAUNE (2022)
Style: Red
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Abv: 13%
Region: Savigny Les Beaune, Côte de Beaune
Terroir: A blend of two terroirs, "les Petits Picotins" with an east-facing exposure at an altitude of 240 meters, and "les Vermots" on slopes with a south-facing exposure. The soils are limestone with very well-draining earth.
Winemaking: Between 9 and 15 months in oak barrels (20% new oak). Fermentation: 50% whole bunch fermentation, maceration of 3 to 6 weeks depending on the vintage with no punching down but frequent pump-overs.
Serve between 16°C and 18°C.
Aging potential: Between 5 and 10 years.
AUXEY-DURESSES 1er CRU, LE BAS DES DURESSES (2022)
Style: Red