Why it matters
The producer
Robert Joillot established the family estate in Pommard in 1929 while working as a winegrower and vine nursery owner. Today Jeanne Joillot, Simon Goutard and Grégoire Guidot carry on the tradition while continuing to modernise the estate. Simon began training as a winemaker with Jean-Luc Joillot in 2015. From the 2019 vintage, Domaine Jean-Luc Joillot was renamed Domaine Georges Joillot in tribute to Jean-Luc's father.
At harvest, grapes are picked manually into perforated crates, sorted when necessary, completely destemmed and transferred to concrete vats. The domaine uses 20 to 30 percent new barrels, ages the wines for 12 to 14 months, and bottles in winter without filtration.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Domaine Georges Joillot is headquartered at 6 rue Marey Monge in Pommard. The bottles also reach Beaune Premier Cru Popille and the red and white Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune wines, within the Côte de Beaune appellation named for the range. Premier Cru marks a named vineyard level in Burgundy, while the Hautes Côtes wines carry a regional appellation.
Popille's two parcels have white limestone soils and south and south east exposure, tying its label to a particular Beaune site instead of the broader regional wines.
Wines to know
The range in view
Joillot Beaune 1er Cru Popille is Pinot Noir from 0.26 hectares divided between two parcels with vines aged 35 years. It stays in vat for 15 to 20 days, then ages in barrel with one quarter of the barrels new. The domaine gives Popille an average laying down time of four to twelve years.
The red Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2021 is delicate and light, with vibrant acidity and pronounced Pinot character. The white Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2021 is Chardonnay from vineyards near Clos des Mouches. It is medium full bodied, with oak framing pineapple and tropical fruit alongside cream, almond and hazelnut, with very nice balance.