Visit to Domaine A. Chopin – tasting the 2018s

Known or unknown? Good or great? Fine or Emotional? Rising Star? … the truth is as always in the glass!

I first tasted a wine from Domaine Chopin during the summer of 2019, having just returned from a tasting trip to Burgundy. It was a 2017 Chambolle-Musigny and it seduced me at once. It was simply a delightful, well-made wine.

As with Coquard-Loison-Fleurot, the bottle was found in a Beaune Supermarket … and as with CLF there is also a very fine potential here – although fewer Grand Cru vineyards – however, one is on its way.

In November 2019 I had the opportunity to taste more from this interesting producer.

More Chopin …

Chopin is a well-known name in Burgundy – and I’m not only talking about the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, who spent much of his life in France.

The name Chopin is relatively widespread among Burgundy’s winemakers – with current and previous estates like Domaine Chauvenet-Chopin, Chopin-Groffier, and earlier a Grivot-Chopin estate.

Looking further back there are references to the Chopin name in Comblanchien at least back to Danguy & Aubertin (1892) .

To get some background, Clive Coates is always a trusted source. In his 1997 book “Côte D’Or,” Clive Coates writes that the brothers André and Daniel Chopin had divided the Chopin estate (in the 1960s according to Arnaud Chopin), with André retiring and his son Yves and grandson Arnaud taking over.

This history was an introduction to Arnaud Chopin – photo above – who is currently running the Chopin estate in Comblanchien which carries his grandfather’s name: Domaine André Chopin.

Arnaud is running the estate with his younger brother Alban Chopin.

The Chopin heritage

The other part of the old Chopin estate – Chopin-Groffier – was held by André’s brother Daniel, who retired in 1997. The vineyards were then transferred to the Chauvenet-Chopin estate, managed by his son-in-law Hubert Chauvenet.

These events took place in the late 1990s, but it appears there is now a reshuffle going on that may provide Arnaud Chopin with some interesting new vineyards from the family heritage.

Arnaud is now reconstituting the Comblanchien-based domaine, and has added (from 2019) a fine plot of Clos de Vougeot from the original Chopin holdings. I tasted the 2019 Clos Vougeot both in November and March, and it is definitely worth waiting for – vivid and fresh with a gorgeous hedonistic pleasure.

So all is good: fine music, good vineyards and a talented vigneron. Let’s go!

Tasting the 2018s from Domaine A. Chopin

Arnaud had prepared a full set of the fine 2018s from the estate to taste. I was very excited to try the wines, as the 2017 Chambolle village I tasted last summer had such lovely appeal and energy. But how good are the Chopin wines really?

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Domaine A. Chopin Côtes de Nuits Villages Chardonnay 2018

Chopin makes a few very interesting whites that should not be overlooked. The Côtes de Nuits villages is from the Monts de Boncourt vineyard and has a vivid, mineral feel even in the generous 2018 vintage. This vineyard is located in Comblanchien on the border with Corgoloin. An enjoyable white with a fine, slightly exotic character (it was a rather hot year) and delightful drinkability.

(Drink from 2020) – Good+ (86p) – Tasted 08/11/2019

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