Domaine Louis Boillot

Despite having created his domaine only a decade ago, Louis Boillot came armed with some of the oldest and best situated vineyards in Burgundy, thanks to four generations of Boillots having acquired prime sites in Volnay and Gevrey Chambertin. The wines that Louis makes from his priceless vines are like Burgundy used to be: gentle, subtle, pure, precise and highly nuanced, their complexity and sensuality growing with age.

In just one decade, Louis’ domaine has become one of the most admired small estates in the Cote d’Or. The turning point came in the mid-2000s, when he and his partner, the supremely talented Ghislaine Barthod, built a cave together in Chambolle-Musigny. This brought two of Burgundy’s most gifted winemakers together, working and tasting side by side, with the alchemy you’d expect. The vineyard management was also combined, with Louis responsible for not only his own vines, but those of Ghislaine as well. It’s no wonder Ghislaine lets Louis take care of her vines. He’s a master with more than 30 years of experience, using no chemical fertilizers or week killers and meticulously pruning for balanced yields. His winemaking is equally timeless, featuring extended, gentle extractions and a limited use of new barrels. 

In the years since his move to Chambolle, there has been a wildly impressive advance in the stature of Boillot’s wines. It has been a change marked not by flash or dazzel, but by an inexorable march towards increasingly refined and transparent wines. Today, as in the past, at the heart of his style is a profound respect for the teerroir of his old vines. In Gevrey-Chambertin for example, his villages vines average over 50 years old, as do the vines for his premier cru-quality Evocelles. His Champonnet proves this little-seen site ranks among Gevery’s best premier crus. And the Cherbaudes, from 90+ year old vines, is frequently of grand cru quality. He makes a profound Nuit-St. Georges 1er cru Pruliers, also from 90+ years old vines.

And, in Chambolle-Musigny, Louis and Ghislaine purchased and divided a significant part of Beaux Bruns. Louis’ Cote de Beaune vineyards are equally imposing, with 55+ years old vines in the villages Volnay Grands Poisots. Also in Volnay, there are three premier cruis: the supple Les Angles, the intense old-vine Brouillards and the esteemed Caillerets. Just down the roas, there are two great Pommard premier crus: a robust Fremiers and monumental Croix-Noires.