Tasting and Pairing Notes for the Musigny Grand Cru 2020 from Domaine Faiveley

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep, bright ruby color, with youthful violet highlights hinting at its concentration and vitality.

Nose

The nose is fragrant and beautifully defined, opening on a vivid array of red fruit, with cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry notes. These are layered with hints of crushed stone, licorice, and touches of chocolate and fresh herbs, brought forward by the partial use of whole-cluster fermentation.

Palate

The palate unfolds generously toward a long finish, revealing a silky, lively, and sensual texture. The fruit is dense yet never heavy, supported by finely grained tannins and a persistent, aromatic finish marked by red fruit, licorice, and subtle spice.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with delicate, flavorful meats such as roasted poultry, veal, or game birds served pink, especially when accompanied by root vegetable garnishes or a touch of natural sweetness. It also shines alongside creamy white meat dishes featuring mushrooms, where its silky texture and earthy depth find a natural echo.

Serving and cellaring

The Musigny Grand Cru 2020 is best served at a temperature of around 59 to 61°F (15 to 16°C). A light decanting of one to two hours before serving can help the wine open up and reveal its full aromatic complexity. This wine is built for long-term cellaring and will continue to evolve gracefully over the years.

Other characteristics

This wine reaches 13.5% alcohol by volume.

A rare and intricate expression of Chambolle-Musigny's grand cru terroir

The Estate

Founded in 1825 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Domaine Faiveley has remained in the hands of the same family for seven generations, now led by siblings Erwan and Ève Faiveley. The estate has grown into one of Burgundy's largest landholders, with more than 120 hectares spanning the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, and Chablis, including an exceptional collection of grand cru and premier cru vineyards. Having completed the organic certification of its entire vineyard in 2025, Domaine Faiveley now stands as the largest certified organic estate in Burgundy.

The Vineyard

The Musigny Grand Cru plot cultivated by Domaine Faiveley covers a mere 0.127 hectare, with vines planted in 1945 and 1990. Perched on the upper part of the Chambolle-Musigny slope, just above Clos de Vougeot, the vineyard benefits from an east-facing exposure that favors morning sunlight and good air circulation. The shallow soils combine limestone, red clay, and gravel, encouraging deep root growth and contributing to the wine's distinctive mineral character.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by warm, sunny conditions, with pronounced shatter (millerandage) observed on this particular plot, resulting in smaller berries and naturally concentrated juice.

Winemaking and aging

The Musigny Grand Cru 2020 was made using a significant proportion of whole clusters, with the central stem carefully removed by hand to preserve aromatic freshness while avoiding harsh, green tannins. The wine underwent full fermentation directly in barrel, allowing for a gentle extraction suited to the extremely limited volume of grapes. Aging took place entirely in new, custom-made miniature barrels of about 60 liters, known as "Musignettes," crafted specifically for the estate by the François Frères cooperage. This meticulous approach yielded a production of roughly 450 bottles.

Grape Variety

This wine is made from 100% pinot noir.