Maison Aymon - Nicolas Protin

The Story of Maison Aymon

The story of Maison Aymon is above all that of one man and a consuming passion for the great wines of Burgundy. Nicolas Protin is originally 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 trod the soils of Pommard at the prestigious Domaine Comte Armand, a formative 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 shaped an open-minded approach to winemaking, far from dogma and established habits.

Back in Burgundy in 2012, he chose to undertake serious training at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune, before returning to 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 wheel of a tractor as well as at the winery bench.

In 2017, Nicolas took a decisive step by becoming an independent viticultural contractor. Seven renowned estates 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 vineyards consecrates the excellence of his work.

It is in the natural continuation of these relationships of trust that he began vinifying, from 2020 onwards, a few barrels for close 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 snapped up by enthusiasts the world over.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Maison Aymon

Nicolas Protin's philosophy can be summed up in a phrase he holds dear: he considers himself a simple "accompanist" of the climats. The terroirs of Burgundy endure. People merely pass through. This deep humility guides each of his decisions, from the vine to the glass.

The plots farmed by Maison Aymon span several iconic appellations of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, all situated 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 regarded lieux-dits and premier crus: Pommard "Les Levrières" (in the immediate vicinity of Les Épenots), Beaune 1er Cru (a blend of Les Toussaints and Les Bressandes), Pommard 1er Cru (plots situated at the heart of the slope), and Gevrey-Chambertin "En Champs".

The defining characteristic of this micro-négociant house lies in the fact that Nicolas works these vineyards throughout the year, as a dedicated viticulture contractor. This allows him to follow the complete growing cycle, to decide himself the ideal harvest date, and to carry out rigorous sorting of the grapes at picking. 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 distinguishes Maison Aymon from a traditional négociant.

Winemaking at Maison Aymon

Nicolas Protin's winemaking philosophy can be summed up in a few words: minimal intervention, attentive listening. 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 fermentation is the rule at 100%. Nicolas favours numerous pump-overs during relatively short macerations, with minimal extraction, thus preserving aromatic freshness and finesse of tannins. Ageing takes place in oak barrels for 10 to 12 months, with no new wood, so as not to impose a foreign oaky character on the wine. Another cardinal principle: the complete abandonment of pumps in favour of gravity, thereby 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 retained for ageing. He deliberately avoids the reductive style sometimes encountered 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 battonage, to retain all its precision and 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 in the Burgundy wine market.

The Cuvées of Maison Aymon

Bourgogne Aligoté

An entry-level 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, precise minerality, and fresh aromas of citrus and white flowers. A taut, lively wine, ideal as an aperitif or with seafood, it perfectly embodies the non-interventionist philosophy of the estate.

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 battonage. 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 colour, aromas of crunchy cherry, and a supple palate with delicate tannins.

Pommard "Les Levrières"

From a single barrel per vintage, this Pommard comes from a plot of old-vine Pinot Noir situated close to the celebrated Épenots. Going against 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 iconic lieux-dits of the appellation: Les Toussaints and Les Bressandes. It is the most concentrated cuvée in the Aymon range. It displays a clear, brilliant colour, an expressive nose of red cherry and flowers with a subtle hint of whole-cluster. On the palate, the focus on fruit and floral character is evident, yielding a wine of great freshness despite its density. 

Pommard 1er Cru

Sourced from the finest premier cru plots at the heart of the Pommard slope, this cuvée is considered the most complex and most elegant in the entire range. Two barrels per year. The Pommard 1er Cru of 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 ageing amplifies rather than transforms.

Gevrey-Chambertin "En Champs"

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