From the atlas
Domaine Christian Bellang & Fils
A Meursault family domaine making Chardonnay whites and Pinot Noir reds across Bourgogne villages, with separate barrel and vat ageing for the two colours.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Bourgogne |
| Home village | Meursault |
| Holdings | 9 hectares across Meursault, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Beaune |
| Main grapes | Chardonnay and Pinot Noir |
| White focus | Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes |
| Family history | The family tree traces back to 1789 |
The Producer
Domaine Christian Bellang & Fils is based in Meursault and makes Chardonnay whites alongside Pinot Noir reds. Christophe manages the estate today. The domaine works as a viticulteur, a grape grower responsible for its vineyard holdings, under Bourgogne appellation classification.
The portfolio covers regional, village and premier cru wines. Its white range includes Bourgogne Chardonnay, Meursault, Meursault Les Tillets and Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes. Its red wines include Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Beaune and Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots.
Place
The vineyards lie along the Route des Grands Crus, with Meursault at the centre and parcels extending into Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Beaune. This spread places Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in different Bourgogne village settings, giving the domaine both white Meursault wines and a red range across several appellations.
Meursault supplies the white village and premier cru labels. The other village names carry the red wines, while Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots adds a higher vineyard classification to the Pinot Noir range.
Story
In 1974, Christian took over his parents' estate. The vines were mainly in Meursault, with some holdings from his father-in-law in Savigny-lès-Beaune. The takeover kept Meursault as the family base while bringing a second village into the estate's working vineyard portfolio. That family arrangement still appears in the bottles, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made under different Bourgogne village names.
Vineyards And Cellar
The vines average around 30 years old across the estate. Meursault whites age for 10 to 18 months depending on the vintage, in barrels with 20 to 25 percent new oak. Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes stays in barrel for 15 to 18 months, also depending on the vintage.
The red wines follow a two-stage élevage. Savigny-lès-Beaune, Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots spend 12 months in barrels followed by 6 months in vats. Barrel ageing allows wine to develop through slow oxygen contact, while vat ageing gives the finished wine more time before bottling without adding further oak.
Wines
The white range starts with Cuvée des Gouttes, a crisp and fruity Bourgogne Chardonnay, then moves through Meursault, Meursault Les Tillets and Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes. The red range includes Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Beaune and Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots.
Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots is full and round but very well balanced, with drinking after 3 to 10 years. The range therefore moves from a regional Chardonnay cuvée to named Meursault wines, and from village Pinot Noir to a premier cru bottle with a stated ageing window.
In The Glass
Pinot Noir gives the red range its common grape frame, while the appellation descriptions separate the bottles. Savigny-lès-Beaune is fine and harmonious. Chorey-lès-Beaune is medium-bodied, full of lush fruit, with a surprisingly long finish. Beaune is very fine and well balanced.
The wines offer different combinations of body and finish within the same grape variety. Chorey-lès-Beaune carries the fullest fruit description, while Savigny-lès-Beaune and Beaune are described through harmony and balance.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Meursault Les Tillets. This Chardonnay bottle carries the Meursault name, while the range also includes Bourgogne Chardonnay and Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes. It shows ripe pear and apple aromas with toasted almonds and vanilla, followed by a creamy, rich palate with refreshing acidity.
Anecdote
In 1995, Christophe joined his father Christian at Domaine Christian Bellang & Fils. He arrived at an estate whose main vines were in Meursault, with additional holdings in Savigny-lès-Beaune. Christophe's arrival marked a generational expansion, and the portfolio came to span Meursault, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune and Beaune. He now manages the estate, whose bottles include Chardonnay whites and Pinot Noir reds from those Bourgogne addresses.
Final Word
Domaine Christian Bellang & Fils keeps its family estate based in Meursault while working Chardonnay whites and Pinot Noir reds across several Bourgogne villages. The cellar gives the two colours separate ageing paths, with white wines raised in barrel and red wines moving from barrel to vat.
Sources
- https://www.domaine-bellang.fr/meursault-wine/the-domaine.html
- https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/winegrowers-and-expertise/passionate-men-and-women/bellang-christian-et-fils-meursault-21190,2507,9363.html?args=Y29tcF9pZD0xNTAyJmFjdGlvbj12aWV3RmljaGUmaWQ9VklOQk9VMDAwMDIwMDA1NSZ8
- https://www.domaine-bellang.fr/meursault-wine/our-white-wines.html
- https://golden-vines.com/producers/bellang-christian-et-fils/
- https://www.reservewines.co.uk/products/christian-bellang-meursault-les-tillets-2020
- https://www.domaine-bellang.fr/meursault-wine/our-red-wines.html