The roots of this domaine go back to the year 1926 when Jean Confuron of Vosne married Anne Marie Bouchard of Prémeaux – vines came from both sides of the family and the newly married couple chose to live in Prémeaux. Today the domaine is in the hands of their granddaughter Sophie who married Alain Meunier.
Our host was their son Louis Meunier, who had just came back from working a year in the wine industustrie in Argentina.
Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron
When Jean-Jacques Confuron fell ill in 1982, wife Andrée and daughter Sophie took charge of a sleeping giant among Burgundy domaines. The vines were superbly located in many of the Côte de Nuits' best sites, but the cellars were outdated and the majority of stock was customarily sold to local négociants.
Everything changed when Sophie Confuron enrolled at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune: she not only discovered a natural talent for winemaking, but also met Alain Meunier, now her husband. The young couple returned to the domaine in 1988, and instigated a veritable quality revolution.
New cellars were constructed in 1989, equipped with the latest technology including pneumatic presses and temperature-control systems. In the vineyards, yields have been significantly reduced, and from 1991 onwards the domaine has been fully "biologique". The wine is no longer sold in bulk, but instead every last bottle is distributed on a tight allocation basis to key customers all around the world.
Alain and Sophie share winemaking responsibilities, and have between them developed a house style that emphasises luscious, rounded fruit and soft, velvety tannins.
The initial cold soak produces deep colour and the right tannins; closed vats and strict temperature control during fermentation maximise fresh, intense fruit flavours and aromas; new oak adds hedonistic appeal, with low yields ensuring that the wines have enough concentration to absorb and balance this oak. The results are quite simply irresistible.
Overwhelming demand has led Alain to create a new "super-négociant" operation, buying grapes which he vinifies and ages with the same care and attention lavished on the J.J. Confuron domaine wines. These are sold under the Féry-Meunier label - see separate factsheet for more details
“In order fully to respect the character of each terroir, we have chosen to use only natural products to treat our vines and have done so since 1990” said Alain said at a dinner in Washington DC a few years ago. He also referred to the parcel of Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru: at eighty years old, it is the oldest in the domaine. Since 2003 he has ploughed it by horse. This is a slow (and costly) job which requires patience and precision but which has the utmost respect for the soil.
Vineyards
Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron has just over 7 hectares, with 12 appellations of the Côte de Nuits. They range from a Côte de Nuits Les Vignottes to the rare Grand Cru Romanée Saint Vivant and Grand Cru Clos Vougeot, through two Chambolle-Musigny: Village and First Cru. The domaine also offers three Nuits-Saint-Georges, a Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Fleurieres Village, a Aux Boudots First Cru, and a Les Chaboeufs First Cru. Let's not forget their Vosne-Romanée 1st Cru Les Beaux-Monts, and their two latest wines: the Côte de Nuits La Montagne white and its red sibling, Côte de Nuits La Montagne rouge, first released with the 2010 vintage, or their Bourgogne Cuvée Jeunesse, the most affordable way of enjoying the Confuron style.
Côte de Nuits Villages, Les Vignottes (1.3 ha)
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Les Fleurières (1.2 ha)
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, Les Chaboeufs (0.5 ha)
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, Aux Boudots (0.3 ha)
Chambolle-Musigny (1.2 ha)
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (0.4 ha)
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru, Les Beaux-Monts (0.3 ha)
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (0.5 ha)
Romanée Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (0.5 ha)
Average Age of Vines:
Village level: 20 to 35 years old
Both 1ers Crus in Nuits-Saint-Georges: 45 years old
Chambolle and Vosne 1ers Crus: 50 years old
Clos Vougeot: 35 years old
Romanée Saint-Vivant: nearly 80 years old
Soil: Rocky limestone marls, with varying proportions of clay depending on the vineyard.
See: Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron, Côte de Nuits, Winemaker Dinner with Owners/Producers Alain and Sophie Meunier at Todd Gray’s Equinox in Washington DC, USA
Vinification and Aging
The reds are sorted and destemmed, but not crushed. There is a cold, pre-fermentation maceration of 4 to 6 days to extract colour and soft, velvety tannins; the vats remain closed to preserve freshness. Gentle heating induces fermentations, which continue for 12 days at temperatures of around 30°C, with 3 pigeages a day. The young wine is drawn off into barrel for malolactic and subsequent ageing of 15 to 18 months. The Grands Crus see up to 100% new oak, the 1ers Crus 70%. Racking is kept to a minimum, and there is neither fining nor filtration before bottling.
Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron produces 3000 cases annually.
Bye-bye
Thanks to Sophie, Alain and Louis for a wonderful tasting from barrel.
Postings: Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours:From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History (Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History
Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France
Introduction to the Burgundy Wine Region at Antic Wine in Lyon with Flying Sommelier Georges Dos Santos - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Paul Bocuse’s Iconic Restaurant in Collonges au Mont d’Or, France - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Walk and Tasting at Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Winemaker Audrey Braccini - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at Domaine Georges Descombes in Vermont, Villié-Morgon, Beaujolais - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Le Mercurey in Mercurey - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
At Domaine Theulot-Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, with Nathalie Theulot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour of Château de Rully and Tasting of Domaine du Château de Rully Wines, with Count Raoul de Ternay - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Michel Prunier & Fille in Auxey Duresses, Côte de Beaune - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Where Robert Parker likes to Eat: Lunch at La Crémaillère in Auxey-Duresses - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Walk in Meursault with Karoline Knoth - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at the 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Ed.Em in Chassagne Montrachet - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Olivier Leflaive in Puligny Montrachet: Vineyard Walk and Cellar Tour, with Olivier and Patrick Leflaive - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Lunch and Wine Tasting at La Table de Olivier in Puligny Montrachet with Olivier Leflaive – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Visit: Hospices de Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Lunch in a Typical French Brasserie: Le Carnot in Beaune - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne
An American Making Ultra-Premium Wines in Burgundy: Visit and Tasting at Domaine Dublère in Savigny lès Beaune, with Owner/ Winemaker Blair Pethel - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting Natural Wines with Maurice Marle at Chez Maurice in Beaune - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits St. Georges - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron in Prémeaux-Prissey Côte de Nuits with Louis Meunier
Lunch at Restaurant La Cabotte in Nuits-Saint-George
Visit and Tasting at Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair in Nuits-Saint-George with Thibault Liger-Belair
Visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot
Where the Most Expensive Red Wines Come from: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Anne Gros in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, with Jean-Michel Guillon
An Institution: Lunch at Restaurant Chez Guy in Gevrey-Chambertin
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Alice Rion
Tour at the Fontenay Abbey (Bernard de Clairveau), Montbard
Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France
Champagne– An Introduction, France
French Champagne Houses and German Roots
Visit and Tasting at the Grower Champagne House Champagne Jean Josselin in Gyé sur Seine, Champagne, with Jean Pierre Josselin, his Wife and Sharona Tsubota
Cellar Visit and Tasting at the Champagner House AR Lenoble in Epernay, Champagne, with Export Manager Christian Holthausen
Cellar Visit and Tasting at the Champagner House Taittinger in Reims, Champagne
Lunch at Brasserie Flo in Reims