Review: Joseph Faiveley 2016 Bourgogne and 2015 Gevrey-Chambertin

By Christopher Null | February 27, 2019 |

The operation at Burgundy’s Domaine Faiveley dates back to 1825. Today it is one of the largest owners of vineyards in the region, and the brand produces dozens of varieties of wine in this storied corner of France. In the U.S., the brand is imported by Frederick Wildman, which sent us two bottles in current release to consider.

Thoughts follow.

2016 Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne – This is the cheap stuff, pinot noir sourced from anywhere in Burgundy, and in keeping with the label, it’s not a barn burner. The fruit is blunt and a bit balsamic, mildly earthy in that classic Burgundy way, but undone by a structure that feels exceedingly basic and more than a little vinegary, sharp with acidity of the wrong type. It’s a wine that, at three years old, already feels like it’s fading rapidly. C / $20

2015 Joseph Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin – Quite tart, this wine showcases a surprising youthfulness, gently earthy with plenty of ripe berry fruit in the mix. Notes of red apples, fresh cherries, and some strawberry all percolate on the palate, but the finish is on the short side. There’s more excitement in this bottle than the Bourgogne, but it’s far from Faiveley’s finest. B / $45