Maison Aymon - Nicolas Protin

The Story of Maison Aymon

The story of Maison Aymon is above all that of a man and a consuming passion for the great wines of Burgundy. Nicolas Protin hails from Lorraine, a region he left to join the Côte-d'Or in 2008, drawn by the magic of the Beaune harvest. The very next year, he set foot on the soils of Pommard at the prestigious Domaine Comte Armand, a defining experience that would ignite a lasting flame.

Irresistibly curious, Nicolas then flew to Australia in 2010, where he truly fell in love with wine and the vine under a different sky. He continued his viticultural world tour in New Zealand, working with Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay. These experiences in the New World gave him an open-minded approach to winemaking, far removed from dogma and habit.

Back in Burgundy in 2012, he chose to train seriously at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune, before rejoining Comte Armand alongside Benjamin Leroux. He then joined Domaine Terre de Velles (since renamed Pierre Vincent) in Auxey-Duresses, where he worked for several years both in the cellar and in the vineyard, behind the tractor as well as at the winery bench.

In 2017, Nicolas took a decisive step by becoming an independent viticultural service provider. Seven renowned estates then called upon his services: Lou Dumont in Gevrey-Chambertin, Château de la Commaraine and Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard, Michel Arcelain, Gabriel Poulet in Fussey, Maison Ulize/Antoine Petitprez between Savoie and Burgundy, and Pascal Pernod in Gevrey-Chambertin. This recognition by the finest Burgundian estates consecrates the excellence of his work.

It is as a natural continuation of these relationships of trust that he began to vinify, from 2020 onwards, a few barrels for friends and family, from the plots he tends himself. Maison Aymon was officially launched with the 2022 vintage, with 6 cuvées representing a total of approximately 2,600 bottles. Since then, Nicolas Protin has established himself as one of the most sought-after talents in the region, and his wines are eagerly sought after by enthusiasts the world over.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Maison Aymon

Nicolas Protin's philosophy can be summed up in a formula he cherishes: he sees himself as a mere "guide" of the climates. The terroirs of Burgundy endure. Men merely pass through. This deep humility guides each of his decisions, from the vine to the glass.

The plots worked by Maison Aymon span several emblematic appellations of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, all located at the heart of the classified Burgundian vineyard. They include vines in Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Blanc (Chardonnay), Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge, as well as highly reputed lieu-dits and premier crus: Pommard "Les Levrières" (immediately adjacent to Les Épenots), Beaune 1er Cru (a blend of Les Toussaints and Les Bressandes), Pommard 1er Cru (plots situated at the heart of the hillside), and Gevrey-Chambertin "En Champs".

The fundamental distinction of this micro-négociant lies in the fact that Nicolas works these vineyards year-round, as a dedicated service provider. This allows him to follow the complete vegetative cycle, to decide himself on the ideal harvest date, and to carry out a rigorous sorting of the grapes at harvest. No grape enters the cellar without having been carefully selected. This total mastery of the raw material, from bud to ripe cluster, is what profoundly sets Maison Aymon apart from a traditional négociant.

Vinifications of Maison Aymon

Nicolas Protin's winemaking philosophy can be summed up in a few words: minimal intervention, maximum attentiveness. His ambition is to produce pure, authentic wines that express above all their terroir of origin, without being masked by technical or oenological artifice.

For red wines, whole-cluster harvesting is the rule at 100%. Nicolas favors numerous pump-overs over relatively short macerations, with little extraction, thus preserving aromatic freshness and finesse of tannins. Aging takes place in oak barrels for 10 to 12 months, without the use of new wood, so as not to impose a foreign oaky character on the wine. Another cardinal principle: the complete abandonment of pumps in favor of gravity, thus respecting the integrity of the berries and the juice.

For white wines, Nicolas uses whole-cluster pressing with a small vertical press. Only the fine lees are kept for aging. He deliberately avoids the reductive style sometimes found in certain white Burgundies. The Bourgogne Aligoté is aged in amphorae and tank, a combination that preserves the natural tension and minerality of the grape variety. The Bourgogne Chardonnay is aged in tank and barrel on fine lees, without stirring, to preserve all its straightness.

In total, 10 to 15 barrels are produced each year depending on the vintage, representing a deliberately confidential output that gives the bottles of Maison Aymon an exclusive and highly sought-after character on the Burgundy wine market.

The Cuvées of Maison Aymon

Bourgogne Aligoté

An introductory cuvée in name only, this Bourgogne Aligoté sincerely reflects Nicolas Protin's work with Burgundy's traditional grape variety. Aged in amphorae and stainless steel tanks, it stands out for its natural tension, chiseled minerality, and fresh aromas of citrus and white flowers. A taut, lively wine, ideal as an aperitif or with seafood, perfectly embodying the house's non-interventionist philosophy.

Bourgogne Blanc (Chardonnay)

Made from carefully selected Chardonnay grapes grown on plots in the Côte de Beaune, this Bourgogne Blanc is aged on fine lees in tank and barrel, without stirring. The result is a straight, mineral wine with discreet buttery notes and nuances of white fruit and fresh almond. Free of heaviness or over-ripeness, it embodies a certain idea of Burgundian elegance.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge

Produced at just two barrels per year, this Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge in Pinot Noir expresses the freshness and fruitiness characteristic of the high-altitude vines of this appellation. With its light, luminous color, aromas of crunchy cherry, and a supple palate with delicate tannins.

Pommard "Les Levrières"

Produced from a single barrel per vintage, this Pommard comes from a plot of old Pinot Noir vines located close to the famous Épenots. Contrary to the often robust and fleshy style associated with the Pommard appellation, Nicolas Protin delivers here a delicate, pure, almost ethereal wine, where velvety texture takes precedence over power. A terroir wine that demonstrates that a Pommard can be as subtle as a great Volnay.

Beaune 1er Cru (Toussaints & Bressandes)

First vintage of this cuvée in 2023, this Beaune Premier Cru is a blend of two emblematic lieu-dits of the appellation: Les Toussaints and Les Bressandes. It is the most concentrated cuvée in the Aymon range. It displays a clear, brilliant color, an expressive nose open on red cherry and flowers, with a subtle hint of whole cluster. On the palate, the work on fruit and floral notes is evident, resulting in a wine of great freshness despite its density. 

Pommard 1er Cru

Sourced from the finest premier cru plots located at the heart of the Pommard hillside, this cuvée is considered the most complex and most elegant of the entire range. Two barrels per year. The Pommard 1er Cru from Maison Aymon embodies Nicolas Protin's ambition: to express the quintessence of a terroir without artifice, without embellishment. Its tannic structure is precise; its discreet aging amplifies rather than transforms.

Gevrey-Chambertin "En Champs"

A jewel of the Côte de Nuits in the Aymon range, this Gevrey-Chambertin from the lieu-dit "En Champs" is the cuvée most strongly marked by whole-cluster harvesting. Nicolas Protin asserts a vibrant acidity, a lively tension, and a unique aromatic combination blending gentle spices, green tea, and small red fruits. This is a wine of character, almost nervy in its youth, which will gain in complexity over time. Produced at just one barrel per year.