Chofflet Givry Heritage Rouge
Pairs with: Classic roasted chicken with wild chanterelles, thin slices of prosciutto and duck rillettes, seared salmon with a light mushroom reduction, grilled pork chops with a splash of cherry glaze, or a creamy, earthy wedge of young Brie or Camembert.
Good for: Introducing a curious friend to high-quality red Burgundy without breaking the bank, anchoring a cozy Sunday roast, or relying on a highly versatile, incredibly food-friendly red that can smoothly transition from casual charcuterie to a formal dinner.
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir (Sourced from sustainably farmed vines averaging 30 to 35 years old).
I am from: Givry AOC, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France (Sourced from protected, high-altitude amphitheater slopes in the hillside hamlet of Russilly).
The Story: Domaine Chofflet is an absolute bastion of artisanal history, with its viticultural roots tightly bound to the rugged hills of Russilly since 1710. For over three decades, the estate’s modern reputation was carefully forged by the legendary Denis Valdenaire, who took over from his father-in-law, Jean Chofflet, in 1986. Long before it became a commercial trend, Denis was a fierce pioneer of lutte raisonnée (sustainable farming)—severely pruning the vines in spring to naturally limit disease, heavily plowing the soils to force root systems deeper into the limestone bedrock, and completely rejecting industrial chemical shortcuts.
In 2017, the family legacy entered its next exciting era when his son-in-law, Jonathan Brunot, joined the estate. Taking the reins fully upon Denis’s retirement in 2018, Jonathan rebranded the estate back to its historical moniker, Domaine Chofflet, and thoughtfully renamed their hallmark village wine "Héritage" as a profound tribute to the two generations of men who laid the groundwork before him.
The secret to this wine's exceptional charm lies in its microclimate: while much of Givry is planted on flat plains, Chofflet's parcels sit on protected middle and upper slopes between 250 and 350 meters of elevation. These east-southeast facing bowls capture intense daytime heat, allowing the grapes to achieve optimal ripeness even in cooler years. In the cellar, Jonathan handles the fruit with exquisite gentleness—utilizing a gravity-fed setup, 100% de-stemming, a gentle five-day cold soak, and traditional manual foot-treading. To prevent the delicate Pinot Noir fruit from being smothered by woody flavors, half of the blend is matured in concrete vats, while the other half rests in 228-liter French oak barrels (with a restrained 15% new oak).
Why You'll Love Me: It is juicy, beautifully vivid, and incredibly approachable—a red Burgundy that completely casts aside stuffy, tight pretension in favor of pure, open-hearted joy. In the glass, it pours a brilliant, luminous ruby-red color. The nose is a delightfully aromatic playground, greeting you with an energetic bouquet of fresh red cherries, wild raspberries, and ripe dark plums, seamlessly intertwined with elegant nuances of crushed violets, dried clove, and a faint, sophisticated whisper of flinty smoke and forest floor. On the palate, it delivers a masterclass in balance and quaffability. It hits with a smooth, medium-bodied frame and a delightfully silky, rounded texture. The crunch of succulent red fruit is kept wonderfully alive by a clean, vibrant beam of acidity and perfectly integrated, powdery tannins, sailing effortlessly into a long, clean, and lightly savory finish that immediately begs for another sip.
