Domaine Grivelet - Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru 'Les Chaumes' 1957

Domaine Grivelet – Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru ‘Les Chaumes’ 1957

1. The Domaine Grivelet

Domaine Grivelet in Chambolle-Musigny is one of Burgundy’s legendary estates, which no longer exists today. The estate enjoyed its heyday in the interwar period under the leadership of Fernand Grivelet, who was not only a winegrower but also a leading négociant-éleveur on the Côte de Nuits. He was also one of the key figures in the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the famous brotherhood founded in Nuits-Saint-Georges in 1934.

The Grivelet family owned the Château de Chambolle-Musigny and cultivated the commune’s finest vineyards, including the Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares and the Premier Cru vineyards Les Amoureuses, Les Charmes, Beaux-Bruns and Haut-Doix. The style of the wines was classic and designed for ageing – they captivate with their finesse and have developed elegantly over the decades .

Scandal – However, the estate’s reputation was permanently tarnished: Bernard Grivelet was charged by the French anti-fraud authority in 1979. He is alleged to have labelled over 70,000 bottles of inexpensive table wine with the prestigious labels of Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis and Chambertin-Clos-de-Bèze and exported them to the USA. The fraud was uncovered when a wine expert opened a magnum bottle and realised that the contents did not match the label. Bernard Grivelet was convicted, and the scandal continues to this day to cast a shadow over the provenance of many old bottles bearing his name.

2. The ‘Les Chaumes’ vineyard

The designation ‘Les Chaumes’ refers to a Premier Cru within the Vosne-Romanée appellation – not in Chambolle-Musigny. The vineyard, covering approximately 6.5 hectares, is situated at the southern end of the Vosne-Romanée appellation in the Côte de Nuits. The name ‘Les Chaumes’ refers to former fallow land.

The wines from Les Chaumes are considered full-bodied and supple, though not as refined as their Grand Cru neighbours. They are made from Pinot Noir and are characterised by concentration and tannic structure.

Important clarification: Searches for ‘Domaine Grivelet – Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Chaumes” 1957’ predominantly lead to listings for the Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Charmes” 1971. It is highly likely that the bottle in question is in fact ‘Les Charmes’ (a Premier Cru vineyard in Chambolle-Musigny) and that the designation ‘Les Chaumes’ is the result of a labelling or transcription error . ‘Les Chaumes’ is a Vosne-Romanée vineyard, whilst ‘Les Charmes’ belongs to Chambolle-Musigny.

3. The 1957 vintage in Burgundy

The 1957 vintage was a solid, though not outstanding, vintage in Burgundy. Wines from this vintage now display typical tertiary aromas:

“medium-coloured, they release powerful aromas of raspberry, candied strawberry, violets and undergrowth”

The current pricefor a 1957 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru is estimatedat around €181.

4. Auction history

The bottle of1957 Domaine Grivelet Chambolle-Musigny has appeared at several auctions:

Due to their age,the condition of the bottles is often compromised (storage stains, tarnished capsules, high liquid levels).

5. Evaluation and classification

Wines from Domaine Grivelet are now regarded as highly sought-after rarities on the collectors’ market and, depending on their condition and provenance, can fetch four-figure sums. Owing to their rarity and past instances of forgery ,the utmost caution is advised when verifying provenance .

Domaine Grivelet epitomises the quintessential classic Chambolle-Musigny – fragrant, silky, with great ageing potential and an unforgettable glimpse into Burgundy’s glorious past, even if the name will forever remain associated with one of the darkest chapters in wine history.