History
This important Burgundy domaine has been in the family for 4 generations, with the majority of vineyard holdings acquired by Jules Groffier (father of Robert) in the 1930s. He experimented with estate-bottling before the war, but economic conditions were not favourable and the majority of the wine was sold in bulk until 1973. The wines have had a good reputation for many years now, but with the arrival of Robert's son Serge, the domaine has been catapulted into what The Wine Advocate describes as "superstar status".
Serge devotes his attention and considerable energy to the vineyards, and the result is quite simply outstanding fruit quality. Ploughing and hoeing the soil, the elimination of chemical sprays and fertilisers, adapting vine training to open the canopy, rigorous debudding and removal of excess vegetative growth - all these contribute to low yields of truly ripe, concentrated grapes. The style of vinification extracts good colour and sufficient tannins, as well as terroir typicity and the soft, sensual fruit that characterises great Chambolle. Even the Clos de Bèze, the biggest and most masculine of Groffier's wines, has a seductive charm that connoisseurs the world over find impossible to resist. As with all the great Burgundy domaines, quantities available are pitifully low, and prices correspondingly steep, but the sheer hedonistic pleasure of these wines fully justifies the financial sacrifice required.