Domaine Gueguen is a newer, small estate in Chablis. In 2013, Céline Brocard, daughter of Chablis producer Jean-Marc Brocard and her husband, Fréderic Gueguen, combined their vineyards and established Domaine Gueguen.
Most of their vineyards are located southwest of Chablis, around the village of Préhy. The winery location is La Chapelle Vaupelteigne, a village located further north.
In addition to family vineyards, they signed long-term contracts with grape growers to handle their land. The Gueguen estate is now over 26 hectares (64 acres). They produce classic mineral-driven wines with sustainable farming practices and work with vines on varied soils with a Kimmeridgian subsoil formed in the Jurassic era. Plots are located in Chablis, Chichée, Saint Bris, and Irancy.
In addition to Chardonnay, they work with Aligote, Sauvignon Blanc, the rare Sacy (more on this grape below), and Pinot Noir.
The domaine is HVE Level 3 (Haute Valeur Environnnementale) certified and in conversion for the French AB organic certification expected 2023.
2020 Chablis
Even at this young age, Domaine Gueguen Chablis delivers, expressing a pure and clean wine. This is their entry level Chablis, one of several Chablis they produce.
Bright yet delicate (green apple, white peach, white blossoms), demanding yet elegant (flinty mineralogy, white rose petals), and length that belies its youth.
The 40-year-old Chardonnay vines are on Kimméridgien, argilo-calcaire soils. The wine went through total malolactic fermentation and aged on fine lees for ten months.
Vinification at Domaine Gueguen
Céline and Fréderic only vinify wines, using indigenous yeast, and in stainless steel or enameled steel tanks; the only intervention consists of controlling the temperatures during the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations.
“Our wines are the pure expression of our terroir, combining complexity, minerality and balance.”
Céline Gueguen
2020 SACY – Cepage Confidential | AOC Coteaux Bourguignons Blanc
I was lucky to snag a bottle of this rare wine at a local caviste (wine shop) who only managed to get six bottles; it is made in very small quantities.
Domaine Gueguen only has .3 hectares of (80-year-old) Sacy vines. And apparently there are under 12 hectares (30 acres) of this high acid grape in France. It has several synonyms including Tresallier in the Auvern region and the Rhone Valley. This was our first time tasting Sacy.
Aromas and flavors included pear, Asian pear, green plum, and white floral. It’s very bright yet going through malolactic fermentation and 10-months of lees aging softened the acidity and brings more yellow pear and Meyer lemon flavors to this medium-bodied wine. A super introduction to this grape!
We say if you find any Domaine Gueguen Chablis, Sacy, or their other wines, grab them!
Photo courtesy of Domaine Gueguen
I love learning about new grapes! I had never heard of Sacy and as soon as I finished reading your post I grabbed my “Wine Grapes” book and looked it up. The caption “Light, nether Burgundian, losing ground”. I just want to scoop up and save all these grapes that are “losing ground”! Hats off to Domaine Gueguen for bottling these grapes and giving Sacy a stage!
I opened my Kindle version of Wine Grapes for this one too! It is very much on the decline per my exchange with the Domaine. Hats off to them indeed.
Wow what wines! “…demanding yet elegant…” love that description. And Sacy, that’s definitely a new to me grape. Sounds like this is a domaine to watch (even if I must do it longingly from afar).
I say yes, one to watch! Sacy has umpteen synonyms, in addition to Tresalier. Who knows, the grape could be growing in Turkey.
As big fans of JM Brocard we can’t wait to find this wine and give it a try — irresistable indeed!
And both wines are price performing. Bon chance!