DOMAINE PAUL PILLOT
Chassagne-Montrachet
The Domaine dates back to the second half of the 19th century when Thierry’s great-grandfather, Jean-Baptiste Pillot, decided to concentrate on viticulture rather than barrel making, having done both for some time previously.
His sons, Alphonse and Henri, succeeded him. During their time, the two brothers increased the Domaine’s holdings significantly and began to bottle their own wines. Henri’s son Paul then took over the Domaine in 1968. Paul acquired the prestigious Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru vineyards of Clos Saint Jean, Les Grandes Ruchottes, Les Caillerets, and La Grande Montagne, and the Saint-Aubin 1er Cru of Les Charmois.
Today, the domaine counts 13 hectares of vines and is run by Paul’s children: Thierry and Chrystelle. Thierry started working with his father in 1999 and finally took the reins in 2007 and Chrystelle joined the family domaine in 2005.
This address has had a good reputation for years, but since Thierry Pillot started implementing changes in the vineyards and in the winery in 2011 there has been an incremental but notable shift upwards in quality. Thierry is dedicated to making wines with energy that highlight their respective terroirs and with each vintage the wines get purer and more refined.
In the Vineyard
Like many other young growers in Burgundy these days, Thierry Pillot understands that the wines are made in the vineyards and he spends most of his time outside caring for his vines. The vineyards are farmed organically without being certified as such.
All of the 1er Cru and Grand Crus vineyards are worked exclusively by hand. Thierry trains his vines higher to maximize foliar surface and help with photosynthesis. During de-leafing, leaves are removed toward the bottom, to allow good aeration around the grape bunch, but kept at the top to protect the grapes from the sun.
In the Cellar
Thierry Pillot follows a non-interventionist approach in the cellar.
The 2011 vintage is the vintage Thierry Pillot started implementing some of his own ideas. His first decisions were to make the élévage last longer and to reduce the influence of oak.
The wines are now matured for 18 months on their lees. The percentage of new wood is low and Thierry Pillot uses larger-format barrels such as 350-500-liter barrels. After aging the wines spend six months in stainless steel before bottling.
“Pillot is one of a handful of exciting producers who win Chassagne-Montrachet the title of Burgundy’s most interesting white wine-producing village today”
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
La Romanée
La Romanée is one of the highest altitude sites in Chassagne-Montrachet. This specific cuvée comes from a 0.49-hectare parcel planted by Thierry’s Grandfather 75 years ago.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Grandes Ruchottes
This 1er Cru Les Grandes Ruchottes is made from a 0.2-hectare southeast-exposed plot. The vines here were planted in 1997 on clay and limestone with a dominant of limestone.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Caillerets
Les Caillerets is a steep vineyard with very thin topsoil and a lot of rocks. The Pillot’s cuvée is made from 0.4 hectares of 60-year-old vines.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Grande Montagne
Grande Montagne is the highest altitude site in Chassagne-Montrachet. The soils here are mostly limestone with very little clay. Pillot’s cuvée is made from 35-year-old vines.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Champs Gains
Les Champs Gains is the vineyard directly below the 1er Cru Caillerets. The Pillot’s plot is planted with 45-year-old vines on limestone with deep clay soils.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Clos St-Jean
This cuvée is made from 45-year-old Chardonnay vines planted on limestone with clay.
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Rouge
Clos St-Jean
Clos Saint-Jean is considered one of the top sites in Chassagne for Pinot Noir. This cuvée is made from 55-year-old vines planted and clay and limestone and 0.5 hectares of young Pinot Noir vines planted by Thierry Pillot.
Chassagne-Montrachet Village Blanc
This Chassagne-Montrachet Village is a blend of 3 parcels of 55-year-old Chardonnay vines in Chassagne in the lieu-dits of Les Chaumes, Le Concis du Champs and Les Plantes Mornieres.
Chassagne-Montrachet Village Rouge
Vieilles Vignes
This Pinot Noir cuvée comes from vines directly below the 1er Cru Les Morgeots. The vines here are 50+ years old and are planted on clay and reddish limestone.
Chassagne-Montrachet Village
Les Mazures
Les Mazures is an exceptional village lieu-dit directly below 1er Cru Champs Gains. This cuvée comes from a small plot of Chardonnay with southeast exposure planted with 25-year-old vines on clay and limestone.
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru
Le Charmois
Adjacent to 1er Cru En Remilly, Les Charmois is one of the finest vineyards in Saint-Aubin. This cuvée comes from an east-facing plot planted with 50-year-old vines.
Saint-Aubin Village
Les Pitangerets
On the Chassagne side of Saint-Aubin, Les Pitangerets is a cold site across from the 1er Cru En Remilly. This cuvée is made from 50-year-old vines.
Santenay Village Rouge
Vieilles Vignes
This Santenay vieilles vignes is made from 40-year-old Pinot Noir vines that come from two different lieu-dits: Prarons and Champs Claude.
Bourgogne Blanc
This beautiful Bourgogne Chardonnay is made from 35-year-old vines. About 40% of the grapes are sourced from vineyards in the village of Chassagne and the rest in Remigny.
