Why it matters
The producer
Every grape is harvested and sorted by hand, and yields are kept painfully low. Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot farms 14.8 hectares in Côte de Beaune. Its 50 parcels are distributed over 22 appellations.
In 1994, Fernand Pillot handed winemaking responsibility to his son Laurent in a newly completed winery near the Route Nationale in Chassagne-Montrachet. Laurent has since transferred winemaking responsibilities to his son Adrien.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Chassagne-Montrachet is the domaine's home village in the Côte de Beaune. Its lower Morgeot parcels have clay-heavy soil, and white wines from these holdings tend to be on the heavy side. Upper-slope vineyard parcels provide the contrasting part of this site portfolio.
Wines to know
The range in view
The white wines include Bourgogne Blanc, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sentier du Clou, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse in magnum, and Meursault 1er Cru Caillerets. Red wines include Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Rouge and Pommard Tavannes.
The 2023 Bourgogne Blanc has ripe green apple, pear and peach character. The 2023 Saint-Aubin and the Chassagne-Montrachet wines show the domaine across village and premier cru labels, while the red wines bring Pommard and Morgeot into the same Côte de Beaune portfolio.