About
Domaine Cécile Tremblay
Domaine Cécile Tremblay is a 4 hectares domaine, located in Morey-Saint-Denis, Burgundy. The vineyards are farmed according to non-certified biodynamic and certified organic principles by Cécile Tremblay, the winemaker in charge at the domaine now. The domaine has been certified organic since 2003.
Cécile Tremblay’s wines stand out at different levels including her Bourgogne Cote-d’Or, made from vines of Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny; a magnum-only, whole-bunch vinified, sulphur-free bottling of Chambolle-Musigny Aux Echanges; old-vine Premier Cru Les Feusselottes and both the grands crus. The Echézeaux comes from the heart of the appellation, Les Echézeaux-Dessus, while the Chapelle-Chambertin (old vines again) is close to the middle of the vineyard, on the Les Gémeaux side. Both are excellent, structured, yet elegant wines.
The top wines of the domaine are: Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru, Echézeaux Grand Cru Cuvée du Dessus and Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Cuvée La Feusselottes.
The Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2019 scored 97 - 99, the Echézeaux Grand Cru Cuvée du Dessus 2015 scored 97, and the Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Cuvée La Feusselottes 2019 scored 95 by the Wine Advocate.
Robert Parker's tasting notes on the Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2019: "The 2019 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru is a magical wine in the making, soaring from the glass with a deep and as yet only partially formed bouquet of cherries, spices, coniferous forest floor and smoked meats. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's layered and immensely concentrated, yet simultaneously exquisitely texturally refined and complete. Long and penetrating, could this be the finest wine that Tremblay has produced to date?"
History
2003
Cécile Tremblay has been winemaker at Domaine Cécile Tremblay since 2003.
Though the preceding two generations were not themselves involved in wine, they kept the ownership of vineyards inherited from Edouard Jayer. In 2003 Edouard Tremblay's great-granddaughter, Cécile Tremblay, decided to take back three hectares of vines when the lease expired.
In 2021 she extended the vineyards by purchasing and renting some additional parcels including Clos de Vougeot. The domaine has moved from Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée to Morey-Saint-Denis and is now next to the Castel Trés Girard in Morey-Saint-Denis.
Approach
Biodynamic since 2016, Certified organic since 2003
The vineyards at Domaine Cécile Tremblay are farmed according to non-certified biodynamic since 2016 and certified organic principles. The domaine has been certified organic since 2003.
Depending on the vineyard, a certain amount of whole-bunch vinification is currently practiced: very little in Vosne-Romanée or Nuits-Saint-Georges, 40 percent for the Chambolle Cabottes and Feusselottes and 70 percent for Chapelle-Chambertin.
Cécile Tremblay follows her palate and instinct when choosing a proportion of whole clusters to retain or when to carry out a punch-down or pump-over. Maturation takes place in barrels from Tonnellerie Chassin without racking. There is not a lot of new wood, typically 20 to 30 percent. The wines are now pressed using a vertical press. After over a year in her underground cellar, Tremblay's wines ascend to her cuverie in the winter—still in barrel on their lees—where they are prepared for bottling in spring.