Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 2022 750ml

Les Cazetiers is one of those premier crus that consistently prompts the question of why it was never elevated to grand cru status — and Faiveley's holding makes it one of the most compelling versions of this much-debated terroir. Faiveley's parcel has grown to over 4 hectares, accounting for almost half of the entire appellation, spread across two distinct terroirs: at higher altitude, marl and limestone lend finesse and minerality, while in the lower part, deeper clay soils contribute power and richness — the final blend a wine of considerable complexity and spice, with aromatic notes that draw comparison to Chambertin itself. The vineyard borders Clos Saint-Jacques to the north on its south-east facing slope, with vines planted across multiple decades from 1930 through to the 1990s — a diversity of age that adds layers to the final blend. It is one of the few têtes de cuvée not reclassified as grand cru in the 1930s, alongside Les Amoureuses and Les Saint-Georges — an injustice the wine addresses every vintage without complaint. 

Aromas of smoky berry fruit and plums mingle with rose hip, orange peel, musk and warm spices — medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, concentrated and vibrant, with velvety tannins, lively acids and a long, perfumed finish. In its finest vintages the wine unwinds with blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, grilled game, bergamot and warm spices — full-bodied and textural yet full of energy, with a gourmand core of succulent, sapid fruit cloaking rich, satiny tannins and concluding with a long, subtly carnal finish.