Rodolphe Demougeot

History of Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot

The history of Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot begins in 1992, in Meloisey, in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. A grandson of winegrowers whom he often accompanied in the vineyard, Rodolphe Demougeot inherited from a very young age a love of working the land and a passion for the vine. When he founded his estate, he had 3 hectares of vines at his disposal, spread between the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Pommard and Beaune. His approach was clear from the outset: to faithfully transcribe the identity of each plot, without artifice and without compromise on quality.

Over the years, the estate has grown through carefully chosen acquisitions in prestigious villages of the Côte de Beaune. In 1998, Rodolphe Demougeot officially settled in Meursault, taking up residence at 2 rue du Clos de Mazeray. The estate today covers nearly 8 hectares (up to 9 depending on the year) and brings together plots in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Monthélie, Auxey-Duresses, Santenay and of course Meursault. A discreet winemaker, attentive to his terroirs and appreciated for still reasonable prices on highly sought-after appellations, Rodolphe Demougeot today enjoys a growing reputation both in France and internationally, recognised by the Bettane et Desseauve guide and the Revue du Vin de France.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot

The vines of Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot are spread across some of the most emblematic climates of the Côte de Beaune. In Meursault, the estate cultivates plots situated beneath the mythical Premier Cru Les Perrières, which yield an exceptionally high-quality Bourgogne Blanc, as well as the lieu-dit Le Limozin. In Pommard, the domaine works village-level plots, the climat Les Vignots and the Premier Cru Les Charmots. The portfolio also includes a Premier Cru in Auxey-Duresses (Les Clous) and a Premier Cru in Savigny-lès-Beaune (Les Peuillets), as well as plots in Beaune, Monthélie and Santenay.

The soils, typically Burgundian, are deep, stony and clay-limestone, offering Chardonnay and Pinot Noir ideal conditions for expression. All plots are ploughed to promote soil aeration, without the use of any herbicides. Vine work largely follows the lunar calendar and draws inspiration from organic practices. Pruning is long, bud removal is strict, and leaf thinning is carefully adapted to achieve well-spaced clusters and perfectly healthy grapes. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, guaranteeing meticulous sorting and optimal quality of the grapes entering the winery.

Vinification at Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot

In the cellar, Rodolphe Demougeot favours a low-interventionist approach that allows the terroir to speak for itself. For the whites, the Chardonnay grapes are harvested in small 600-litre crates, sorted in the vineyard and whole-cluster pressed slowly and gently for approximately three hours. Fermentations start naturally with indigenous yeasts. Ageing takes place in 228-litre oak barrels, of which only 10% are new, for approximately 12 months, sometimes complemented by a period in tank of 4 to 5 months to preserve freshness. Certain batches are transferred to larger vessels (350 litres) to maintain tension and vivacity.

For the reds, after meticulous sorting, the grapes are destemmed and then vat-fermented for a maceration of 12 to 20 days. Fermentation is entirely natural, with no added yeasts, and the musts are pumped over or delestaged according to tasting assessments and the profile of the vintage. After pressing, the wines are aged in barrels and then bottled by gravity, following favourable lunar phases. Sulphites are reduced to a strict minimum at every stage. This approach yields finely extracted, elegant and pure Pinot Noirs, as well as mineral, taut Chardonnays that are particularly expressive.

The Cuvées of Domaine Rodolphe Demougeot

The Bourgogne Côte d'Or Chardonnay is a benchmark white for the estate, sourced from plots situated beneath the Premier Cru Les Perrières in Meursault. Pure, mineral and vibrant, it unmistakably bears the mark of the neighbouring appellation and represents exceptional value for money on the Côte de Beaune.

The Beaune Clos Saint-Désir is a hillside Chardonnay, delicately aged in barrels. It offers an ample palate, with notes of candied citrus, roasted hazelnut and white flowers, underpinned by a fine minerality that extends the finish.

The Monthélie La Combe Danay Blanc is a delicate and moving cuvée. Light, chiselled and impeccably precise, this dandy Chardonnay maintains a precise aromatic course from the very first attack and unfolds with great finesse, in the pure and taut register typical of the finest white Monthélie wines.

The Meursault Village is the classic expression of the estate's flagship appellation. Endowed with an elegant and lively structure, marked by notes of warm stone, fresh citrus and brioche, it unfolds a rich and creamy palate sustained by a prolonged vivacity across the entire length of the palate.

The Meursault Le Limozin is one of the estate's emblematic cuvées. Sourced from a finely situated climat, it stands out for its minerality, exemplary balance and aromatic finesse. This is a complete Meursault, built for ageing, which perfectly reflects the great terroir of the Côte de Beaune.

The Bourgogne Côte d'Or Pinot Noir is the estate's entry-level red. Supple, fruity and fresh, it reveals a nose of cherry and wild strawberry, with a generous and fluid palate that is already very approachable and faithful to the elegance of the house.

The Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune is a high-altitude Pinot Noir, sourced from the cool hillsides overlooking the Côte. A lively, crunchy and precise wine, it seduces with its aromatic freshness, fine tannins and immediate drinkability.

The Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Bourgeots is an elegant village-level cuvée, marked by vibrant red fruit, a silky texture and a fine mineral backbone. The wine offers a precise reading of the appellation, approachable young and already delicious at the table.

The Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets is the estate's emblematic Premier Cru within this appellation. Fuller and more structured than the village wine, it combines a dense substance, finely woody tannins and a deep fruit with great ageing potential.

The Monthélie La Combe Danay Rouge is a Pinot Noir of rare delicacy, which captivates through its balance and finesse. The wine flows gently across the palate, without seeking to overwhelm, in a refined, dandy and luminous register that is particularly seductive.

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Clous is the red Premier Cru from Auxey-Duresses cultivated by the estate. An elegant wine, lightly spiced, marked by aromas of black fruits, undergrowth and violet, with a fine tannic structure and a persistent finish.

The Beaune Les Beaux Fougets is a Pinot Noir from a little-known lieu-dit within the Beaune appellation. Supple and fruity, marked by notes of cherry and raspberry, it offers great aromatic accessibility and a wonderful pleasure at the table.

The Beaune Les Épenotes is a more structured village-level cuvée that reveals the depth of Beaune's terroirs. A dense palate, woody tannins that integrate after a few years of cellaring, and an aromatic finish of black fruits and gentle spices.

The Pommard Village is a classic of the estate, a typical expression of the appellation. Deep colour, a powerful nose of black fruits and liquorice, a full-bodied and structured palate, a long and tannic finish: a Pommard true to its reputation as a great fine wine for cellaring.

The Pommard Les Vignots is a Pinot Noir from a sought-after lieu-dit in Pommard. The wine offers a refined structure, aromas of red fruits and violet, and bears testament to Rodolphe Demougeot's expertise in crafting elegant and well-balanced reds.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots is one of the estate's flagship reds. From a renowned Premier Cru, it displays a concentrated substance, noble and fine tannins, a pronounced mineral backbone and great ageing potential, in the grand tradition of Pommard wines built for the cellar.

The Santenay La Comme Dessus rounds off the red range with a generous and approachable cuvée. Sourced from a prized lieu-dit in the southern Côte de Beaune, it offers a Pinot Noir with vibrant fruit, a supple texture and an elegant finish, for the greatest pleasure of wine lovers.