Domaine Joseph Faiveley: The Generous Elegance of the 2022 Vintage
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Domaine Joseph Faiveley: The Generous Elegance of the 2022 Vintage
Domaine Joseph Faiveley—the historic Nuits-Saint-Georges producer managed by seventh-generation siblings Erwan and Éve Faiveley alongside Technical Director Jérôme Flous—produced an extraordinary lineup in 2022.
In Burgundy, the 2022 vintage yielded beautifully balanced and concentrated wines. Although the summer brought another wave of warm weather, consistently cool night temperatures preserved essential natural acidity and kept potential alcohol levels moderate. Free from severe heatwaves or drought stress, the fruit reached optimal ripeness in ideal conditions, allowing Faiveley to harvest pristine, high-quality grapes under clear, sunny skies with minimal sorting required.
The winemaking at Faiveley continues its upward trajectory year after year. Armed with a cutting-edge winery, experienced winemaker Jérôme Flous—now celebrating his sixteenth vintage with the domain—brings deep expertise to the cellar. For the red wines, fermentation takes place over approximately 20 days in large, temperature-controlled oak vats, incorporating varying proportions of whole bunches depending on the specific appellation before barrel aging. This careful approach yields wines that are remarkably expressive, elegant, and finely structured.
The 2022 Growing Season
The 2022 growing season in the Côte d'Or presented a sunny, warm, and remarkably dry cycle that defied the challenges of recent drought-stricken years.
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Spring Conditions: A mild winter led to an early budbreak, though timely April frosts were largely avoided. May brought exceptionally warm weather, triggering rapid, uniform flowering under ideal dry conditions and setting up a bountiful potential crop.
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Summer Weather: Summer was characterized by intense heatwaves and prolonged dry spells. However, well-timed rains in June provided crucial groundwater reserves that prevented hydric stress. The deep roots of Faiveley’s old vines efficiently drew moisture, keeping the grapes healthy without suffering from sunburn or shriveling.
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Harvest: Harvesting began in late August for whites and continued into early September for reds. The fruit arrived at the winery in pristine condition, requiring minimal sorting. Crucially, cool nights late in the season preserved vibrant natural acidity, keeping sugar levels in balance.
Key Wine Reviews & Critical Tasting Notes from international Pros:
Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir)
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2022
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Tasting Note: Opens with a brooding, deeply complex bouquet of dark wild berries, black cherry, cassis, crushed violets, and warm spices. On the palate, it is full-bodied, dense, and broad-shouldered, displaying immense power held in check by fine, powdery tannins and a cool, chalky mineral backbone. A monumental wine built for long-term cellaring.
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Points: 96–98 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous) / 95–97 Points (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2022
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Tasting Note: Sourced from three distinct parcels within the enclosure, this expression delivers aromas of ripe red plums, forest floor, orange peel, and toasted oak spice. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers a plush, velvety texture on the entry before revealing a firm, structured mid-palate driven by vibrant acidity and a long, savory finish.
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Points: 94–96 Points (Burghound) / 95 Points (Tim Atkin MW)
Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint-Georges 2022
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Tasting Note: A classic benchmark from the domain’s home village. It presents expressive notes of black raspberry, dark chocolate, game, and crushed rock. The palate is muscular and compact, showing excellent depth, refined structural tannins, and a persistent, mineral-driven tail.
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Points: 94–96 Points (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) / 95 Points (Jasper Morris MW)
Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 2022
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Tasting Note: Strikingly perfumed and high-toned, bursting with red cherry, pomegranate, dried rose petals, and iron-like minerality. It is sleek, precise, and weightless on the palate, carrying its fruit with vibrant energy and silky finesse toward a long, crystalline finish.
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Points: 93–95 Points (Neal Martin, Vinous) / 94 Points (Decanter)
White Burgundy (Chardonnay)
Domaine Joseph Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022
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Tasting Note: A tour de force of white Burgundy. It opens with pristine aromas of citrus oil, white peach, crushed chalk, matchstick reduction, and toasted almond. On the palate, it is broad, rich, and satiny, yet immediately gripped by a piercing beam of salty acidity that gives the finish immense verticality and drive.
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Points: 96–98 Points (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) / 96 Points (Burghound)
Domaine Joseph Faiveley Meursault 1er Cru Blagny 2022
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Tasting Note: High-elevation freshness shines through in this cuvée, displaying aromas of lemon curd, crisp green apple, white flowers, and crushed flint. Crisp, tension-filled, and energetic on the palate, ending on a chalky, mouthwatering saline note.
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Points: 92–94 Points (Jasper Morris MW) / 93 Points (Decanter)
Overall Impression
The 2022 vintage at Domaine Joseph Faiveley demonstrates a brilliant synthesis of warmth and precision. Rather than showing heavy extraction or high alcohol, the red wines display succulent fruit, supple tannins, and transparent terroir definition, while the whites offer exceptional energy, tension, and texture. It is a triumphant release that will delight both early drinkers and patient collectors alike.
TASTINGBOOK Notes 2022 Vintage's Best wines:
Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru Monopole 2022
Score: 97–98 Points
The jewel of the domain presents a powerful, deeply structured bouquet of dark damson plum, black cherry, and subtle exotic spices. On the palate, it challenges traditional notions of Corton with its refined, enveloping texture, driven by an intense stony minerality and a firm, fine-grained tannic backbone. A magnificent, age-worthy monopole with extraordinary persistence and drive.
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 2022
Score: 96–97 Points
Displaying high-toned elegance, this Grand Cru opens with aromatic precision, featuring notes of wild raspberry, crushed rose petals, forest floor, and a touch of game. Medium- to full-bodied, it glides across the palate with a cool, crystalline structure and silky, powdery tannins, closing on a long, mineral-laden finish.
Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2022
Score: 97–98 Points
Exuberant and aromatically complex, the Clos de Bèze bursts with sweet wild berries, dark cherries, peonies, vine smoke, and subtle baking spices. On the palate, it is broad, powerful, and seamless, combining direct, velvety tannins with exceptional depth and a long, echoing finish of supreme refinement.
Musigny Grand Cru 2022
Score: 98–99 Points
An ethereal, towering effort that epitomizes aristocratic grace. It opens with a haunting bouquet of wild alpine strawberries, violets, sandalwood, and fine mineral reduction. Weightless yet intensely concentrated, its cashmere-like texture leads into a seamless mid-palate guided by vibrant energy, culminating in an endlessly persistent, saline-tinged finish.
Échézeaux Grand Cru En Orveaux 2022
Score: 96–97 Points
Sourced from the cool En Orveaux climat, this expression displays lifted scents of pomegranate, crushed red berries, star anise, and damp earth. On the palate, it balances generous fruit purity with a taut, chalky spine and fine-grained tannins, delivering remarkable freshness and aromatic length.
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St.-Jacques 2022
Score: 96–97 Points
Benefiting from the cool valley breeze of the Combe de Lavaux, this Premier Cru delivers striking tension and precision. Notes of crunchy red cherry, dark fruit, crushed rock, and subtle iron minerality define the nose. Tightly wound and chiseled, it possesses a vibrant acid line that carries its concentrated core to a long, mineral finish.
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les St.-Georges 2022
Score: 96–97 Points
A hallmark expression from Faiveley’s home village, displaying a dense nose of black raspberry, cassis, dark chocolate, and subtle game. Full-bodied, muscular, and broad-shouldered, it coils its rich fruit around a sturdy, structured frame of refined tannins, promising decades of cellar potential.
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Chaignots 2022
Score: 95–96 Points
More supple and charming in its youth than its southern village neighbors, Aux Chaignots features sweet plum, red cherry, orange zest, and floral undertones. The palate is medium-bodied, velvety, and approachable, framed by fine tannins and a succulent, mouthwatering finish.
Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l’Ecu Monopole 2022
Score: 93–94 Points
An expressive, inviting monopole showcasing red currant, wild strawberry, dried herbs, and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, it is rounded, juicy, and energetic, offering supple tannins and immediate charm paired with a bright, clean mineral lift.
Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens 2022
Score: 94–95 Points
True to its terroir, Rugiens opens with dark cherry, crushed granite, iron, and a hint of warm leather. On the palate, it is taut and muscular with serious structural presence, balanced by the vintage's signature fruit sweetness and a lingering, savory mineral persistence.
Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands Monopole 2022
Score: 93–94 Points
A flagship Côte Chalonnaise release delivering generous aromas of ripe black cherry, spiced plum, and gentle oak toast. Generous and fleshy on the entry, it offers smooth tannins and a bright, succulent acidity that makes it both deeply satisfying and accessible.
White Wines
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2022
Score: 97–98 Points
Mind-blowingly complex and deeply textured, showing pristine notes of yellow orchard fruit, crisp pear, roasted hazelnut, white flowers, and buttered toast. Full-bodied, broad, and satiny on the entry, its immense concentration is effortlessly balanced by a vibrant, focused mineral drive on the finish.
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022
Score: 98–99 Points
A tour de force of white Burgundy, combining breadth with laser-like verticality. A nose of citrus oil, white peach, crushed chalk, matchstick reduction, and toasted almond gives way to a broad, satiny palate instantly gripped by a piercing beam of salty, mouthwatering acidity. Long, precise, and profoundly mineral.