Domaine Parize Cote Chalonaise
The estate started to bottle in 1975, and from one hundred bottles a year, it now bottles over 4,000 cases. Awards and critical acclaim have followed the qualitative progression of the wine.
The Parize family have been making wine in Burgundy for six generations. In 1946, the Givry appellation was instituted. Gerard Parize replanted a lot of parcels and his son Laurent has continued to do the same. The vineyard now covers 9 hectares. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted, depending on aspect and soil. Seven hectares are planted to Pinot Noir, and two to Chardonnay. A little Bourgogne Aligoté is also grown. The oak aged wines can be kept up to twelve years, but the red Givry Vieilles Vignes and the white Champ Pourrot Givry drink better younger.
The average age of the vines is now thirty years. Organic fertilizers have been used for some years, and organic practices are embraced. The vines’ yield is limited by extreme pruning, green harvesting. Harvesting is by hand, and the bunches are sorted before destemming. A cold soak is practiced if the vintage merits it. Long temperature-controlled fermentation is the norm. The cap is punched down, and the juice pumped-over 2-3 times a day for 12-15 days. The 1er crus and the Champ Nalot are put into 1 or 2 year old barrels. The Givry Vieilles Vignes is kept in stainless steel tanks. All complete primary and malolactic fermentation by spring. The 1er cru Chardonnays are fermented and aged in wood, the others in stainless. The latter have a very floral character.