Bessin-Tremblay

Domaine Bessin-Tremblay is based in La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne, a small village just north of Chablis. The domaine was developed by Jean-Claude Bessin, who began bottling wines under his own name in the early 1990s after taking over the family vineyards. Today, the next generation is increasingly involved, with his sons Romain and Antoine Bessin continuing the work of the family domaine.

The domaine covers around 12 hectares, with holdings across Chablis and several important Premier Cru vineyards. These include Fourchaume, La Forêt and Montmains, alongside the domaine’s Chablis and old-vine bottlings. At Grand Cru level, Bessin-Tremblay owns vines in Valmur. Production is entirely focused on Chardonnay, with the vineyards concentrated in the northern and central parts of the Chablis appellation.

In the vineyards, the domaine works according to biodynamic principles, although it is not certified. Harvesting is carried out by hand and winemaking is deliberately restrained, with fermentations using indigenous yeasts and extended ageing on the lees. Oak is used carefully, allowing the wines to develop texture and depth without masking the character of the individual vineyards.

Bessin-Tremblay’s wines combine the freshness and mineral character associated with Chablis with concentration, texture and considerable ageing potential. The Premier Crus show increasing depth and vineyard definition, while Valmur represents the most structured wine of the range. Production is relatively small and the wines have become increasingly sought after, particularly among Chablis enthusiasts, establishing Bessin-Tremblay as one of the notable domaines of the appellation.