Visit to Domaine les Astrelles – Tasting the 2022 Whites

Domaine les Astrelles is a relatively new, exciting estate located in Gevrey-Chambertin, on the industrial side of town east of the railway line.

It is in fact a new iteration of the old Pierre Naigeon domaine. Les Astrelles is the name give to it by Isabelle and Jean-Marie Chapier, who purchased Naigeon in 2019. They are now creating its future.

Jean-Marie, a biologist, and Isabelle, a pharmacist, are doing everything possible to relaunch and reposition les Astrelles. A new production team is in place, and among its members is the oenologist Julien Millet, son of François Millet, the former cellar master of the Comte Georges de Vogüé estate in Chambolle-Musigny.

Today, les Astrelles consists of 14 hectares of vineyards located in numerous climats of Gevrey-Chambertin, Marsannay, and Fixin. Around 30 wines (white and red) are produced, ranging from Bourgogne Aligoté to grands crus Bonnes-Mares, Mazys-Chambertin and Corton.

The whites from Les Astrelles

I would characterise the house style of the whites as I did the reds: flawless, with lively, vivid energy. The wines here are in general enjoyable and well made. The style is consistently executed, with well-judged extraction and a balanced oak treatment.

Impressively, the whites’ high quality matches that of the reds. I’m rather impressed that the whites from a Côte de Nuits producer match the quality of its reds.

So: agreeable and generous wines helped by the nature of the 2022 vintage. I have made a selection of whites that could be on or within reach of the vin d’emotion scale. These are all good, enjoyable wines that make one smile.

Important

Only wines of interest, and mainly those that are recommended, are included in this tasting report. The rest of the wines are of a good standard, but these are the favourites on the day.

Steen Öhman

Chief Tasting Officer

Les Astrelles Aligoté La Mouille 2022

The aligoté La Mouille is on the intense side, with a lovely mineral imprint. It comes from the Fixin and Marsannay area, and works well indeed. Rich, it is quite insistent, as these northern aligotés can be.

(Drink From 2024) – Very Good – (89p) –

Les Astrelles Aligoté La Riotte 2022

Les Astrelles make four aligotés, and not all in the same style. The Riotte is from the Saint Aubin corner of Burgundy, and is on the more mineral side. Vivid, with great liveliness, this is a very good aligoté. A bit of reduction is present, but not annoying to the experience.

(Drink From 2025) – Very Good – (87-88p) –

Les Astrelles Bourgogne Les Closeaux 2022

The Bourgogne Closeaux is rich and intense – typical of the vintage. It has nice minerality that is delicate and elegant, particularly on the mid-palate. An amazing terroir given its modest appellation

(Drink From 2025) – Very Good – (90p) –