Located in Meloisey in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Domaine Denis Carré is a small family-run Burgundy estate now led by Denis Carré and his son Martial.
The domaine farms across a number of prized sites in the Côte de Beaune, producing wines that balance concentration with freshness and precision. With a strong emphasis on vineyard health, low yields and careful cellar work, the estate has quietly built a reputation for authentic, terroir-driven Burgundy that remains true to its origins and family heritage.
Their Estate
The Domaine's vines extend from Meursault to Pommard, passing through the appraised terroirs of Auxey-Duresses, Beaune and Meloisey.
They describe their approach to farming as one that is respectful to life, using organic farming, guided by the phases of the moon to ensure the highest possible fruit quality. Fruit is hand harvested and wines are fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts on the skin of the grapes, with the addition of minimal sulphur, to create vibrant, terroir-driven wines.
Why Domaine Denis Carré?
Farming With Nature
As an organic estate, Domaine Denis Carré centres around sustainable vineyard farming with careful attention to soil health. All grapes used in their wines are their own, and allowing vines to produce lower yields is a vital step in achieving their desired flavour concentration. Ultimately, they aim to be respectful to life in every form.
The More, The Merrier
The vineyard ecosystems across their multiple Burgundy sites are very carefully managed; herbicides and insecticides haven't been used since 2011, and they have been fully organic since 2020. To make the most of the nutrients that they already have onsite, they use the vegetation from vines that are pulled up as a green fertiliser, and manage grassing by working the soil according to the flora on each plot.
Waste Not, Want Not
Gentle cellar work is a cornerstone of their production methods, to preserve freshness and terroir expression. On the same vein, their winemaking style comes with a restrained use of oak to maintain vineyard character. Overall, there is a preference for precision and balance over extraction and manipulation.
Social Responsibility:
The estate is very much family-led, with deep local roots in Burgundy. Founders Denis and Bernadette Carré were both born and raised in Burgundy, and founded the estate together in 1975 with a few rented vines. Since, the estate has been passed to their children, Gaëtane and Martial, with the long-term goal of handing it to their children. Above all, their long-term commitment to preserving traditional Burgundy viticulture results in wines produced with authenticity and transparency at their core.
Highlight Wine: Jim's Pick
Savigny-lès-Beaune Vieilles Vignes 2022, £41
Produced from older vines with naturally lower yields, this wine highlights the domaine's emphasis on concentration, vineyard expression and authentic family-led Burgundy winemaking.
We have six expressions, both red and white, from their estate available in the Cellar Door Shop.
Visit us to indulge in beautifully-crafted, extremely good-value Burgundian wines.
*All images property of Domaine Denis Carré
Leave a comment