Vincent Lumpp trained as a winemaker at the Layce in Beaune and graduated in 1979. He now teaches there one day per week - as well as making probably the finest wines of the Givry appellation. He lives in the family home in Poncey, a hamlet a few miles from Givry, with his wife Catherine. They have two sons Baptiste (also now a vigneron) and Xavier. His father (who was actually a beekeeper) originally had some vines in Givry, but the grapes were sold on to other growers and negociants. Vincent originally started making wine with his brother Francois, and their 1st vintage was 1980. Their 1985 Givry 1er Cru "Clos du Cras Long" won a gold medal at Macon. Vincent and Francois parted company (rather acrimoniously) in 1989, and they have not spoken to each other since that day. Whilst Francois now enters his wines for various competitions and is the better-known of the two, Vincent is content simply to make superb wines - and sells them all very easily - without any publicity whatsoever.

The Domaine started with Clos du Cras Long 1er Cru Rouge (merely a “monopole” at the time), La Grand Berge 1er Cru Blanc and Petit Berge Rouge village wine. Various vineyards have since been added. Clos Jus (1er Cru) was bought by Vincent and two other growers in the late 1980s. Previously this was just a field next to the quarry on the road leading out of Givry towards Mercury. Tens of thousands of tons of rock had to be removed before planting began - which, for each vine, entailed bashing a hole with an 8ft metal spike into broken rock! La Mergures village red was bought from an old friend of Vincent's, when he retired a few years ago. Le Vigeron 1er Cru Rouge was acquired from another retired vigneron some years ago but all the wine from that vineyard is sold in Switzerland. All of the grapes are hand picked, and fermentation of the reds is carried out in large oak foudres, followed by ageing in 225 litre oak Limousin barrels, 50% of which are new. The white wines are kept in glass-lined metal tanks, with just a small proportion kept in new oak to enhance the flavour and complexity of the final assemblage. The wines are filtered prior to bottling through a paper filter.

Vincent insists that his wines are made to be drunk young - and they are indeed delicious at just a couple of years of age. But we English seem to appreciate the fact that fine Burgundy gets better with age. In fact, I have tasted many of Vincent Lumpp’s wines, over the past couple of years – including some from the late 1980's, which are still very much in their prime. Indeed, it was his wines that really helped me to “discover” (i.e. finally appreciate) good Burgundy. Prior to that, I had more than a few disappointing Burgundies (haven’t we all?) and really did begin to wonder what all the fuss was about. But since being introduced to Vincent’s wines by his numerous avid followers at the Nottingham Wine Circle (whose Chairman also happens to be the sole U.K importer) I have certainly seen the light! So much so that I just had to have a go at selling them. I can honestly say that – with the exception of one cuvee from the notorious 2003 vintage – I have yet to drink a Vincent Lumpp wine that is anything less than delicious.

So, drink these wines young if you wish, or age them for a few years - either way, they are truly superb, and are a brilliant (and utterly dependable) introduction to the delights of fine Village and 1er Cru Burgundy, at prices that don’t break the bank.