Fixin

The Fixin Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a municipal appellation within the Côte de Nuits wine region in Côte-d’Or, covering the municipalities of Fixin and Brochon, and has been recognized since 1936. This appellation includes five climats classified as Fixin Premier Cru. Wines from Fixin are also eligible for the Côte de Nuits-Villages appellation.

The reputation of Burgundy wines is well established, and the Côte de Nuits—which stretches from the outskirts of Dijon to Nuits-Saint-Georges—is home to the greatest red wine appellations. But if Fixin isn’t among the most famous names, it’s because its prestigious neighbor, Gevrey-Chambertin, has long overshadowed it. Yet it’s high time to discover this appellation.

With its 89 hectares—85 of which are planted with Pinot Noir—Fixin, if only in terms of area, can hardly compete with its neighbor Gevrey and its 400 hectares. Fixin also has no Grand Cru-classified climats and only five Premier Cru-classified climats, at the top of which stand the Clos de la Perrière and the Clos du Chapitre. Furthermore, part of the production is marketed under the“Côte de Nuits Villages” appellation, which, aside from Fixin, includes the other communes of the Côte de Nuits that do not have a large enough area to qualify for their own communal appellation. Fixin has therefore long maintained a low profile and was even, for a long time, a well-kept secret. Indeed, the appellation’s relative obscurity has spared Fixin’s wines from experiencing price inflation as severe as that of wines from more prestigious Côte de Nuits appellations, but connoisseurs of fine Burgundy wines have always known that the commune’s terroirs are capable of producing wines of exceptional quality.

The Fixin and Fixin Premier Cru vineyards face east and southeast. The soils in the Premier Cru vineyards are fairly uniform brown limestone. The vines are planted at an elevation of between 350 and 380 meters. In some areas, the soil has a marly composition. The appellation’s approximately 96 hectares yield about 4,000 hectoliters per year.

The Fixin and Fixin Premier Cru appellations produce red wines made from the Pinot Noir grape variety and, to a lesser extent, white wines made from the Chardonnay grape variety. As for reds, Fixin wine is what is known as a “winter wine,” as it benefits from aging in the bottle.

Indeed, Fixin features clay-limestone soils of remarkable geological complexity—soils on which Pinot Noir, Burgundy’s great noble red grape variety, thrives like no other. Visually, Fixin’s red wines display a beautiful, deep violet color that hints at a pronounced tannic structure. On the nose, notes of licorice, tobacco, and spices complement the fruit, with blackcurrant taking center stage. On the palate, when young, Fixin red wines can sometimes be a bit rough around the edges; their tannins are lively but rarely aggressive. This tannic bite makes them wines with excellent aging potential; particularly the Premiers Crus come into their own between 5 and 10 years of age. Once the tannins have softened, the palate offers beautiful length and exemplary structure. A touch of acidity may emerge, but without astringency, lending the wine its nobility and persistence while revealing aromas of black fruits. These wines are best enjoyed with red meat, poultry, or a rich cheese platter.

Often tannic and somewhat harsh in its youth, a mature Fixin offers a round, lively attack and a solid structure. It has remarkable richness and a delicate texture. Its qualities are best appreciated in the wines produced by Domaine René Bouvier, Domaine Méo-Camuzet, and Domaine Charlopin-Parizot.

The Fixin appellation is already relatively obscure in itself, but when it refers to a white wine, it is even more so. As mentioned, only 4 hectares are dedicated to white grape varieties—specifically Chardonnay—when it comes to the village appellation. Here again, these are wines for connoisseurs. Pale yellow in color, with a nose hinting at hazelnut and bergamot. On the palate, their minerality gives these wines a crisp, savory character, with hints of fern and hawthorn. They are perfect for pairing with Burgundy snails, as well as grilled salmon or white meat. These are original wines with character.