Henri Magnien
- Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France
As I wrote last year, Charles Magnien continues his rapid ascent through the Burgundian firmament. The vineyard work here is serious: the vines hedged comparatively high, with cultivated soils and planted with the family's own massal selections. In the brand-new cuverie, first employed in 2019, vinification is gentle, with fermentation temperatures kept comparatively cool and pump-overs rather than punch-downs. New oak, largely from Tonnellerie Cavin, is increasingly deftly employed. And the result? 2020 marks a step up even over the very successful 2019s, as Magnien's supple, seamless style has married very well with the concentration and vibrancy of the vintage. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate.
Charles Magnien is the twelfth generation at his family’s domaine in Gevrey Chambertin. They have six hectares of vines, mostly in Gevrey in some key parcels, Ruchottes, Lavaut Saint Jacques, Cazetiers, and Champeaux. The famous vineyards garner the attention, but equally as rich as the land is the old vines. In 1850, the family discovered a mutation of Pinot Noir, which was named after the family, Pinot Magnien. The Pinot Magnien is a part of the blend in their Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes cuvee where the oldest vines are 100 years-old. Charles took over from his father in 2009 and immediately invested his energy and efforts in the vineyards where he is working with a higher canopy. He is following organic agriculture, but will treat if necessary. Charles Magnien is the first in his family to bottle all of the wine that they grow and now with more than ten vintages under his belt, the Henri Magnien wines are quickly becoming recognized as some of the best in the village.