This domaine was originally put on the map by Christian Sérafin’s father, Stanislaus Sérafin, a Polish émigré, who settled in Burgundy before the war. He initially worked as a mason, before purchasing some land in 1947 and establishing himself as a vigneron. His son Christian inherited the domaine in 1988, though he had been making the wine for the previous 20 years. Christian Sérafin is now past retirement age, but with his niece Frédérique in the vineyards and cuverie, and daughter Karine in the office, continuity is in place.
Frédérique and Karine may be expanding the cellar, and while they offer a youthful energy, the winemaking here remains reassuringly familiar and loyal to the house style. The emphasis here is on old vines and low yields, with strict pruning and de-budding, followed by a green harvest and deleafing on both sides.
From the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes upwards, everything sees 100% new oak, all the fruit is de-stemmed, fermented at a high temperature to ensure good depth of colour and fruit, and bottled unfiltered. The wines are built to last, eschewing the modern trend for light, pretty wines which can be drunk practically from the barrel. These powerful wines age exceptionally well.
