The Rossignols of Volnay were linked by marriage to the Trapet family when Jacques Rossignol married Jean-Louis Trapet’s aunt, Mado. The original Trapet holdings were split when the sons of both families – David and Nicolas Rossignol and Jean-Louis Trapet – returned from their studies.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet was established in 1990. In 2005, Nicolas and David began the conversion to biodynamic viticulture. The wines of today are imbued with a greater purity and concentration and the vines themselves are healthier and stronger. The vineyards were officially certified organic and biodynamic in 2008.
The cellar, which is partly subterranean, was built in 1983. A row of lights around the cellar walls indicate ground level. The water table lies almost immediately beneath the cellar, perhaps explaining the 95% humidity level.
The domaine does not rack the wines off their fine lees after the malolactic conversion, which is always finished by the end of November. The proportions of new oak are around 25% for the premiers crus and 40-50% for the grands crus. Barrels, from François Frères, Rousseau and Chassin, are given a medium-long toast and dried for 36 months. Nicolas does less and less punching down, indeed there was none at all in 2019, preferring to extract as gently as possible.
The Rossignols of Volnay were linked by marriage to the Trapet family when Jacques Rossignol married Jean-Louis Trapet’s aunt, Mado. The original Trapet holdings were split when the sons of both families – David and Nicolas Rossignol and Jean-Louis Trapet – returned from their studies.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet was established in 1990. In 2005, Nicolas and David began the conversion to biodynamic viticulture. The wines of today are imbued with a greater purity and concentration and the vines themselves are healthier and stronger. The vineyards were officially certified organic and biodynamic in 2008.
The cellar, which is partly subterranean, was built in 1983. A row of lights around the cellar walls indicate ground level. The water table lies almost immediately beneath the cellar, perhaps explaining the 95% humidity level.
The domaine does not rack the wines off their fine lees after the malolactic conversion, which is always finished by the end of November. The proportions of new oak are around 25% for the premiers crus and 40-50% for the grands crus. Barrels, from François Frères, Rousseau and Chassin, are given a medium-long toast and dried for 36 months. Nicolas does less and less punching down, indeed there was none at all in 2019, preferring to extract as gently as possible.
BEAUNE 1ER CRU LES TEURONS
This 1.2 hectare plot, planted in 1978, is on the high part of Teurons, a well-sited parcel close to the woods, next to Aux Cras. A stony, iron-rich red soil, with a cliff on the western side of the slope, which reflects the sun and along with the trees, serves to protect the vines, makes for early ripening. A lovely, open nose of sappy whole-bunch character – incense and raspberries, with darker, spicier fruit beneath. The palate is very well defined, fine tannins and ferrous minerality working in tandem with the pure Pinot fruit and fresh acidity. Textbook stuff from one of Beaune’s top sites. 15% new oak, with 50% whole bunch vinification.
Corney & Barrow Score 17
Recommended drinking from 2024 – 2032
£399.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN VIEILLES VIGNES
This is a selection from just over five hectares of 45-85 year old vines, planted in eight different parcels, on light gravelly soils. Fine flinty dark berries on the nose, with violet and graphite. Beautifully aromatic. The palate is chiselled, with a sense of presence and occasion – blackberry fruit and exotic spice are channelled by firm, fine tannins, the whole enlivened by poised acidity. Substantial and tactile on the finish. 50% whole bunch fermentation, 15% new oak. This is the domaine’s highest production cuvée: around 20,000 bottles per year are made.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5-18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2033
£365.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU CLOS PRIEUR*
This comes from a 0.25 hectare plot planted in 1986, just down the slope and across the road from Mazis-Chambertin. There is a step up in aromatic intensity here, although it is more tightly coiled and brooding than the village Gevrey. Compacted, ripe raspberry fruit and a glimpse of rose petals, with tea leaf spice emerging with time in the glass. The palate is open and succulent on the attack, leading into a mid-palate of pure, even juicy, raspberry and crunchy blackberry. Filigree-fine tannins, very precise and detailed. Around 50% whole bunch vinification.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2035+
£770.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU PETITE CHAPELLE*
Petite Chapelle has a 1.5m deep layer of top-soil and, in Nicolas’ words, is “full of clay”. This is a 0.5 hectare holding. More deeply coloured than Clos Prieur, with more apparent cedary spice on the nose at this stage. Violets, cranberries and a fine pepperiness, this feels more substantial. The palate bears this out with firm, imposing tannins channelling the darker blackberry flavours through to a long, powerful finish. A very impressive wine with a real sense of extract and presence, which should repay cellaring handsomely. Around 50% whole bunch vinification and 25% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 18+
Recommended drinking from 2026 – 2040
£770.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
CHAPELLE-CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
The domaine’s Chapelle-Chambertin comes from two parcels – En la Chapelle (planted in the 1960s) and Les Gémeaux (planted in 1924). Both are warm sites, directly below Clos de Bèze, with a mere 50 centimetres of soil above the rock. It is slightly earlier-ripening than the other grands crus. The soil consists of layers of rocks, with holes into which the roots can penetrate. Sweetly, exotically spiced aromas, which seem to be a theme with this wine – a nose to die for, you could come back to it again and again (as I did…) and find something new each time. The palate is sculpted, much more honed than the fleshier 2018, with resonant dark berry fruit and fine fruit-coated tannins. Yes! Around 50% whole-bunch vinified.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2040+
£765.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
LATRICIÈRES-CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
Latricières tends to be the most aromatically expressive of the grands crus when tasted young, perhaps due to its breezier, less protected aspect. One parcel here dates from the 1930s and another was planted after the 1956 frost. A beguilingly perfumed nose of violets, strawberry and tangerine zest. The finely structured palate’s raspberry flavours are enhanced by an assertively sappy, herby whole bunch character which with patience will meld. The acidic lift and freshness here is phenomenal, contributing to the long, focused finish. 40-50% whole bunch vinified.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5-18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2040
£765.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
This comes from two parcels in the centre of Le Chambertin, imaginatively referred to as ‘north’ (a third) and ‘south’ (two thirds), at around 300 metres of altitude. The soil here is a metre deep. Ripe and brooding aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cedar and clove, with a peppery spice and rocky minerality. A nose which demands attention! The palate is powerful from the off, firm tannins making themselves felt but never managing to dominate thanks to the very fresh, tensile acidity and beautifully woven exotic spice. A huge sense of minerality here, as you would hope. The finish is seemingly endless, the fine chalky mineral notes lingering tantalisingly. 50% whole bunch fermentation.
Corney & Barrow Score 19
Recommended drinking from 2028 – 2050
£1180.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
* Wines marked in this way will be allocated please speak to your salesperson.
BEAUNE 1ER CRU LES TEURONS
This 1.2 hectare plot, planted in 1978, is on the high part of Teurons, a well-sited parcel close to the woods, next to Aux Cras. A stony, iron-rich red soil, with a cliff on the western side of the slope, which reflects the sun and along with the trees, serves to protect the vines, makes for early ripening. A lovely, open nose of sappy whole-bunch character – incense and raspberries, with darker, spicier fruit beneath. The palate is very well defined, fine tannins and ferrous minerality working in tandem with the pure Pinot fruit and fresh acidity. Textbook stuff from one of Beaune’s top sites. 15% new oak, with 50% whole bunch vinification.
Corney & Barrow Score 17
Recommended drinking from 2024 – 2032
£399.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN VIEILLES VIGNES
This is a selection from just over five hectares of 45-85 year old vines, planted in eight different parcels, on light gravelly soils. Fine flinty dark berries on the nose, with violet and graphite. Beautifully aromatic. The palate is chiselled, with a sense of presence and occasion – blackberry fruit and exotic spice are channelled by firm, fine tannins, the whole enlivened by poised acidity. Substantial and tactile on the finish. 50% whole bunch fermentation, 15% new oak. This is the domaine’s highest production cuvée: around 20,000 bottles per year are made.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5-18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2033
£365.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU CLOS PRIEUR*
This comes from a 0.25 hectare plot planted in 1986, just down the slope and across the road from Mazis-Chambertin. There is a step up in aromatic intensity here, although it is more tightly coiled and brooding than the village Gevrey. Compacted, ripe raspberry fruit and a glimpse of rose petals, with tea leaf spice emerging with time in the glass. The palate is open and succulent on the attack, leading into a mid-palate of pure, even juicy, raspberry and crunchy blackberry. Filigree-fine tannins, very precise and detailed. Around 50% whole bunch vinification.
Corney & Barrow Score 18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2035+
£770.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 1ER CRU PETITE CHAPELLE*
Petite Chapelle has a 1.5m deep layer of top-soil and, in Nicolas’ words, is “full of clay”. This is a 0.5 hectare holding. More deeply coloured than Clos Prieur, with more apparent cedary spice on the nose at this stage. Violets, cranberries and a fine pepperiness, this feels more substantial. The palate bears this out with firm, imposing tannins channelling the darker blackberry flavours through to a long, powerful finish. A very impressive wine with a real sense of extract and presence, which should repay cellaring handsomely. Around 50% whole bunch vinification and 25% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 18+
Recommended drinking from 2026 – 2040
£770.00 / CASE OF 12 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
CHAPELLE-CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
The domaine’s Chapelle-Chambertin comes from two parcels – En la Chapelle (planted in the 1960s) and Les Gémeaux (planted in 1924). Both are warm sites, directly below Clos de Bèze, with a mere 50 centimetres of soil above the rock. It is slightly earlier-ripening than the other grands crus. The soil consists of layers of rocks, with holes into which the roots can penetrate. Sweetly, exotically spiced aromas, which seem to be a theme with this wine – a nose to die for, you could come back to it again and again (as I did…) and find something new each time. The palate is sculpted, much more honed than the fleshier 2018, with resonant dark berry fruit and fine fruit-coated tannins. Yes! Around 50% whole-bunch vinified.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2040+
£765.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
LATRICIÈRES-CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
Latricières tends to be the most aromatically expressive of the grands crus when tasted young, perhaps due to its breezier, less protected aspect. One parcel here dates from the 1930s and another was planted after the 1956 frost. A beguilingly perfumed nose of violets, strawberry and tangerine zest. The finely structured palate’s raspberry flavours are enhanced by an assertively sappy, herby whole bunch character which with patience will meld. The acidic lift and freshness here is phenomenal, contributing to the long, focused finish. 40-50% whole bunch vinified.
Corney & Barrow Score 17.5-18
Recommended drinking from 2025 – 2040
£765.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU*
This comes from two parcels in the centre of Le Chambertin, imaginatively referred to as ‘north’ (a third) and ‘south’ (two thirds), at around 300 metres of altitude. The soil here is a metre deep. Ripe and brooding aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cedar and clove, with a peppery spice and rocky minerality. A nose which demands attention! The palate is powerful from the off, firm tannins making themselves felt but never managing to dominate thanks to the very fresh, tensile acidity and beautifully woven exotic spice. A huge sense of minerality here, as you would hope. The finish is seemingly endless, the fine chalky mineral notes lingering tantalisingly. 50% whole bunch fermentation.
Corney & Barrow Score 19
Recommended drinking from 2028 – 2050
£1180.00 / CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK
* Wines marked in this way will be allocated please speak to your salesperson.