The estate was created in 1925 by Pierre GELIN. Stéphen GELIN took over its management in 1969 and was then succeeded by Pierre-Emmanuel, his son. Pierre Emmanuel pays special attention to the cultivation method: the vines are cultivated in an environmentally-friendly manner and tilled. If fertilisers are required, we make sure that they are natural (manure from organic farming).
To obtain high-quality grapes of optimal maturity, we disbud the vines in a very selective manner, and remove leaves by hand..
Conscious of the need to respect the environment, the Domaine uses rainwater to wash its tractors and has installed a "plant container" to process water used to rinse sulphating equipment. The fermenting room is equipped with a screen and a sludge remover, so no wine-making effluents are discharged into the public network.
Vinification follows the traditional methods but adapts in order to continuously improve the quality of the wines. The wines mature in oak barrels – the percentage of new barrels varies depending on the Crus and vintages – to give light woody note, from 20 to 22 months. The wines are then bottled on the estate and are only marketed after being stored for a year or two in our cellars.
FIXIN (pronounced Fissin) is situated in the Côte de Nuits district between Marsannay and Gevrey- Chambertin. In 1860, it merged with the neighbouring hamlet of Fixey. As well as wine-cellars, attractions for visitors include the 10th century church of Saint- Antoine, the 12th century church Saint-Martin, the Manor of La Perrière, François Rude’s famous statue in the Parc Noisot of Napoleon in the process of becoming immortal, a particularly handsome communal laundry and the slate-covered village bread-oven.
The Premiers Crus are on reasonably homogenous brown limestone soils with east to south-east exposures between 350 to 380 meters of altitude. The remaining plots are on lower ground at the foot of the slopes and the soil is a mixture of limestone and marl.
FIXIN is 109 hectares of vines. 3 hectares of white Fixin with 0,5 hectare of Premier Cru “Clos de la Perrière” and 106 hectares of red Fixin with 21,5 hectares of Premier Cru :
· Clos de la Perrière : 4,5 hectares
· Clos du chapitre : 5 hectares
· Les Hervelets : 5 hectares
· Les Arvelets : 5 hectares
· Clos Napoléon : 2 hectares
The FIXIN appellation, which received official recognition in 1936, produces both, village and Premier Cru appellation. Production is largely of reds (Pinot Noir) but there are some plots of white (Chardonnay). The reds, called “winter wines”, are high-coloured with a brilliant deep purple colour. The bouquet comprises flower scents (violet peony), fruits (blackcurrant, Morello cherry, quince), animal scents, musk and pepper. Cherry-pits is also quite common. Often tannic and a little hard in their youth, the Fixin acquire a heightened and rounded attack and solid structure. Their fullness is remarkable and their texture delicate
Information about Pierre Gelin