Christian Sérafin Père et Fils
Burgundy, Gevrey-Chambertin
Wine Maker: Christian Sérafin

The reserved and considered son of a Polish immigrant Christian Sérafin holds a stunning suite of fabulous vineyards which produce intense and structured Cote de Nuits reds which command a fair swathe of new oak. The fruit concentration from low yields and a propensity to harvest late is such that the wines easily handle the oak regime. The Sérafin wines are also structured firmly with appropriately powerful tannin and acid levels and as such are generally best consumed after ten years cellaring.

The vineyards are managed biologically with no regular application of systemic herbicides or pesticides. The vinification is both simple and natural with no artificial yeasts or enzymes, done in stainless steel. They are not racked until they are homogenized prior to bottling, nor are they fined or filtered.

There are two main oak producers used, François Frère and Taransaud of which the Bourgogne receives 50% new, the village Gevrey 70% new with the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes, the Premiers Cru’s and the Grand Cru 100% new oak.

'I have always very much admired the Serafin wines as being one of the most successful domaines to combine old school techniques with 100% new wood and make it work, both in terms of transparency of terroir but also of producing balanced, pure and serious wines. As good as the Serafin 2005s are, and they are indeed excellent, his ‘04s are every bit as successful in the context of that vintage and it could be argued perhaps even more so.' Bughound

'Exuberant, lavishly flavored red burgundies are the speciality of Gevrey-based Christian Sérafin, achieved by low yields, late harvesting and ample new oak. Sérafin’s Charmes-Chambertin is a reference bottle.' Andrew Jefford

'Sérafin’s wines are full-bodied, meaty, and abundantly rich, with a good touch of spice, and are nicely oaky rather than excessively so. This is a splendid address.' Clive Coates, MW

'I detected some real sensitivity in these 2004s. If this trend continues Christian and his team will become full members of the Gevrey aristocracy. I fully expect this to happen. These 2004s are very fine indeed.' Matthew Jukes

'... these ‘06s are simply terrific. They are also very much in keeping with the Sérafin style if perhaps just a touch more elegant though that may be the natural elegance of the ’06 vintage influencing my view.' Burghound
Wine Available
2006 Bourgogne Rouge
From 31 year old vines opposite the village. This is very Gevrey in every way. It has an attractive nose with cherry fruit, hints of earthy and savoury complexity, background oak and a hint of Gevrey muscle at the end.
'Worth a look. (84-87)/2010+' Burghound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin
' From 30 year old vines. Good ripeness and immediately appealing this is red berry and complex, gentle reduction which breathes off revealing suave spice notes. The palate is medium bodied with good depth and fine ripe tannins which are nicely dry.
'Again, this is very fine for its level and worth a look. (87-89)/2011+' Burghound

2004 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Vieilles Vignes'
'(55 year old vines, a portion of which abut Griotte). This is an unusually ripe ’04 with somber dark berry fruit aromas liberally laced with Gevrey earth that leads to serious, powerful and concentrated medium full flavors underpinned by very firm but not hard tannins and excellent length. This is not especially elegant but the quality of the underlying material is evident as few villages wines have this kind of phenolic ripeness in ‘04. 88/2011+' Bughound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 'Vieilles Vignes'
The old vine cuvee (56 years) is a noticeable step up in concentration and class more than anything; it’s a very attractive blend of Gevrey dark cherry fruited density and the silky power of a Vosne Romanee with plenty of backbone holding it together beautifully. Sophisticated and totally delicious.
'Always one of the great villages level wines in virtually every vintage and 2006 is no exception. Terrific and recommended. (88-91)/2013+' Burghound

2004 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Corbeaux'
'Bright, deep cherry-red. Reduced nose dominated by dark fruits, smoke and gunflint, plus a whiff of matchstick. Then sweet and supple but reduced in the mouth, with wild, soil-driven flavors of dark cherry, smoke and game, all nicely framed by well-integrated acidity. Classic Gevrey premier cru, finishing with suave tannins. 90' Tanzer

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Corbeaux'
This is very mineral with sour cherry and raspberry with youthful brawn. The palate is terrific and somewhat reminiscent of a Ruchottes-Chambertin with the pronounced mineral character preceding the more muscular Gevrey richness and tannin plumbs the finish.
'… ripe and earthy dark berry fruit nose that introduces delicious, mouth coating and sweet flavors that are not especially elegant but they’re very Gevrey. (89-91)/2013+' Burghound

2004 Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru 'Les Millandes'
'This is every bit as elegant as the Fontenys but quite firm like the VV, offering a pretty mix of red berry fruits and hints of game, anise and warm iron-infused earth notes trimmed in a touch of wood that introduce moderately structured middle weight flavors that are restrained yet sweet, all wrapped in a precise, punchy and mineral-based finish. I like this but be aware that there is rigor here so it will require some patience. 90/2012+' Burghound

2006 Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru 'Les Millandes'
Completely different to the Gevrey’s with its dark cherry fruit youthful exuberance. There’s terrific fruit and classy oak handling on display and the palate is both sumptuous and firmly structured too.
'… beautifully long finish that is the equal of the Baudes save for not quite as much depth. Still, this is well worth a look and recommended. (89-92)/2014+' Burghound

2004 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 'Les Baudes'
'A noticeably more elegant nose of pretty red fruits nuanced by earth, underbrush, spice and a hint of violets merges into structured yet finely detailed middle weight flavors that are impressively concentrated for the vintage and possess solid power and drive on the long but austere finish. Terrific intensity and punch here. 91/2012+' Bughound

2006 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru 'Les Baudes'
Classy, somewhat mellow and silky, still with the Sérafin stamp which is that of a Gevrey producer. A very rounded raspberry fruited wine with a nice fleshy lighter upbeat finish.
'A slightly riper yet also more elegant dark berry fruit nose is nuanced by obvious mineral hints that are clearly picked up on the earthy and very rich medium full flavors that are textured and velvety on the seriously deep finish that drenches the palate with dry extract. The close proximity to Bonnes Mares is evident. (90-92)/2014+' Burghound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Le Fonteny'
Classy juice here with the high notes and florals combining with the red berry and punchy savory notes. The palate is dense and nicely powerful and never gets away from you as the backbone of this beautifully crafted wine is a balanced medium-bodied Gevrey premier.
'This is impressive and well balanced. Recommended. (89-92)/2013+' Burghound

2006 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Les Cazetiers'
Ample and richly fruited with intense brambly dark cherry notes. The palate asserts itself in very much in the same way the nose does; this is a lovely rich and powerful Burgundy with marvelous concentration and impeccable balance that will reward ten years cellaring.
'A wine of impeccable transparency and balance that will age and improve for at least a decade. (91-93)/2016+' Burghound

2006 Charmes-Chambertin, Grand Cru
This is not necessarily as intense as the other Gevrey’s in the Sérafin stable but just one sniff of this indicates that it is clearly Grand Cru. From both Charmes Chambertin and Mazoyères Chambertin (Charmes is not only easier to say it is a far prettier word). The wine is all flesh and silk with fine raspberry fruit poised tannin and lacy acidity which combine for a finish which is long and building.
'Again, first rate. (91-94)/2016+' Burghound