From the atlas
Domaine Chanson Père et Fils
A Burgundy négociant and domaine producer with Premier Cru holdings, a historic Bastion cellar, and Pinot Noir from Mercurey and Beaune.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Appellations | Mercurey and Beaune Premier Cru |
| Main grape | Pinot Noir |
| Named bottle | Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Fèves Monopole |
| Defining feature | 111 acres of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards |
The Producer
In Beaune, Chanson ages wines in the Bastion de l'Oratoire, a historic fortified cellar with exceptionally thick walls. Domaine Chanson Père et Fils is the domaine name used for Maison Chanson's own wines, while the business also operates as a négociant. Its domaine wines follow a domaine philosophy, with organic farming and holdings concentrated in Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards.
The domaine produces approximately 17,000 cases each year. The range includes village and Premier Cru reds, with named bottles from Mercurey and Beaune. Red wines are aged in barrel and released without fining or filtration.
Place
Chanson's wines come from Burgundy's Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise. Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Fèves belongs to the Côte de Beaune, while Mercurey Rouge and Mercurey Premier Cru Clos L'Evêque come from the Côte Chalonnaise.
A village wine carries the name of its appellation, while a Premier Cru names a classified vineyard level within that appellation. Clos des Fèves is a monopole, meaning one domaine controls the vineyard rather than sharing its farming among several owners.
Story
Simon Verry founded the business in 1750 as a wine négociant. Alexis Chanson later managed and expanded it, and the Chanson name became attached to the business that continues to work both as a négociant and as a domaine producer.
The historical line therefore runs from wine trading to estate wines from named Burgundy vineyards. The present range keeps both sides visible, with domaine bottles from Mercurey and Beaune alongside the broader work of the house.
Vineyards And Cellar
Chanson holds 62 acres of Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune. Its Premier Cru monopolies include Clos des Fèves, Clos des Mouches, and Corton Vergennes. These are sites where one producer controls the farming and the resulting wine.
Organic farming is part of the domaine work. In the cellar, wines age in the Bastion de l'Oratoire, a fifteenth century fortification tower. Its walls measure 24 feet thick at the base, creating a cool, heavy stone environment for ageing.
Red wines spend 18 to 24 months in barrel, with approximately 30 percent new oak. The house does not fine or filter its red wines, and the winemaking approach aims to reduce intervention when possible.
Wines
The red range moves from Mercurey Rouge, a village level Pinot Noir, to Mercurey Premier Cru Clos L'Evêque and Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Fèves Monopole. The Premier Cru bottles name particular vineyards, while Mercurey Rouge gives the range a village level expression.
Other bottles carry the names Passe Tout Grains, Rully, and Bourgogne Aligoté, extending the range across red and white Burgundy. The named red Premier Cru wines form the most site specific part of the collection, with Clos L'Evêque from Mercurey and Clos des Fèves from Beaune.
In The Glass
Mercurey Rouge has a bright ruby colour, with floral fragrances, ripe red berries, and a hint of spice. The palate brings pure fruit, a tight texture, and well crafted tannins.
Mercurey Premier Cru Clos L'Evêque adds peony, cherry, strawberry, liquorice, and pepper to its floral and red fruit profile. It has a tight, dense texture, with a long finish marked by crunchy fruit notes.
Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Fèves becomes more layered in mature vintages, showing stewed red fruits, leather, blond tobacco, forest floor, and hints of truffle. The palate is ample and well shaped, with integrated tannins, a silky texture, and a long finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Domaine Chanson Mercurey Rouge is the first bottle to open. It is a village level Pinot Noir from south west facing mid slope sites in marl and limestone.
The label places the wine before the Premier Cru bottles, which name Clos L'Evêque or Clos des Fèves. The Premier Cru wines narrow the address to a classified vineyard, while Mercurey Rouge keeps the focus on the village appellation and its marl and limestone sites.
Anecdote
In the 1980s, the quality of Chanson's wines deteriorated and the business needed help. Bollinger, a Champagne group, invested in the Burgundy house and took over in 1999. The acquisition followed a period of decline for an old négociant and placed the business under new ownership at a moment of change. Chanson continued as a named Burgundy producer with both négociant work and domaine wines, including bottles from Premier Cru holdings in Beaune and Mercurey.
Final Word
Domaine Chanson Père et Fils combines Burgundy négociant work with domaine wines from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. Its named reds move from Mercurey Pinot Noir on marl and limestone to Premier Cru wines from Mercurey and Beaune, aged in the Bastion cellar.
Sources
1. https://wineanorak.com/2021/08/17/visiting-chanson-an-impressive-negociant-and-domaine-in-bourgogne/ 2. https://vintus.com/producers/domaine-chanson/ 3. https://worldsbestwines.eu/france/burgundy/domaine-chanson/ 4. https://www.domaine-chanson.com/en/vin/mercurey/ 5. https://www.domaine-chanson.com/en/vin/beaune-1er-cru-clos-des-feves-monopole/ 6. https://www.domaine-chanson.com/en/vin/mercurey-1er-cru-le-clos-leveque-2/