Ballot Millot

History of Domaine Ballot-Millot

The history of Domaine Ballot-Millot is rooted in 1630, when the family acquired its first vines in Meursault. Over sixteen generations, the Ballot family patiently built an exceptional viticultural heritage, preserved through the centuries despite successive inheritance divisions. The union of the Ballot and Millot families, through the marriage of Philippe Ballot and Aleth Millot, made it possible to bring together some of the most coveted plots in the Côte de Beaune, notably in the famous Premiers Crus Perrières and Genevrières of Meursault.

In 2000, Charles Ballot, the seventeenth generation of winegrowers, took over from his father Philippe at the helm of the domaine, after completing his training in New Zealand and California. Born and raised at the domaine, Charles has known every plot, every tank, and every barrel since his earliest childhood. Under his leadership, the domaine embarked on a return to traditional practices: abandoning chemical herbicides, plowing the soils, hand-harvesting, rigorous grape selection, and yield reduction. This qualitative renaissance, acclaimed by the entire specialist press (Bettane et Desseauve, Wine Advocate, La Revue du Vin de France), has elevated Ballot-Millot to the ranks of the Côte de Beaune's most sought-after confidential references.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Ballot-Millot

The vineyard of Domaine Ballot-Millot extends over approximately 10 hectares, located exclusively in the Côte de Beaune. The distribution reflects the house's vocation for white wines: 8 hectares of Chardonnay in Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet, 2 hectares of Pinot Noir in Volnay, Pommard, and Beaune, and half a hectare of Aligoté. The domaine holds plots in five Premiers Crus of Meursault (Perrières, Charmes, Genevrières, Bouchères, Poruzots) as well as remarkable Village lieux-dits such as Les Criots and Les Narvaux.

The soils, predominantly clay-limestone and marl, typical of the Côte de Beaune, provide an ideal setting for the expression of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The age of the vines ranges from 30 years for Les Criots to over 70 years for Les Genevrières, a guarantee of concentration and depth. The domaine is managed using organic farming principles based on sustainable viticulture. Charles Ballot banishes chemical herbicides in favor of plowing, limits treatments to the essentials, practices green harvesting, and favors hand-harvesting with rigorous sorting both in the vineyard and in the winery.

Winemaking at Domaine Ballot-Millot

In the cellar, Charles Ballot crafts precise, minimally interventionist vinifications faithful to Burgundian tradition. The wines are neither fined nor filtered, in order to preserve the full textural and aromatic richness of the grapes. For the whites, aging takes place in oak barrels for twelve months (10% new wood for the Villages, around 25% for the Premiers Crus), followed by six months in stainless steel tanks after racking, with the aim of delivering maximum freshness and tension to the Chardonnay.

For the reds, the vatting time has been extended since 2011 to gain greater depth. Vinifications are carried out with destemmed grapes and gentle extractions. Aging lasts approximately 18 months in oak barrels, followed by two additional months in stainless steel tanks before bottling. Charles Ballot also follows lunar cycles for racking and bottling. This style, at once modern and respectful of tradition, produces linear, mineral, and precise whites, as well as fragrant, charming, and elegant reds.

The cuvées of Domaine Ballot-Millot

Bourgogne Aligoté: From a 50-are plot, this taut and lively white plays the card of freshness, citrus, and white flowers. The perfect Burgundian aperitif.

Bourgogne Blanc: Elegant and accessible Chardonnay, vinified with the same rigor as superior crus. Notes of white flowers, fresh fruit, and a beautiful mineral finish.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: A luscious red from young Pinot Noir vines — a frank and fruity expression of the Burgundian grape variety, ideal for drinking in its youth.

Meursault Village: From a plot of approximately 2 hectares of thirty-year-old vines on clay-limestone soils. Aged 18 months in barrels (25% new) then 6 months in tank. Aromas of white flowers, citrus, toasted bread, and buttery notes. A smooth, sapid, and long palate.

Meursault Les Criots: An early-ripening Village wine from approximately 30-year-old vines, offering a tender, fresh volume marked by beautiful tension, balanced roundness, and carefully crafted substance. Ideal with white meats or fish in sauce.

Meursault Les Narvaux: A remarkable Village lieu-dit that yields wines of superb saline retro-olfaction, endowed with great purity and a tight mineral backbone.

Meursault 1er Cru Les Bouchères: A lacy Premier Cru with consistent substance, a deep floral perfume mingled with citrus and a touch of spice. An ample and fleshy wine, rich and well-balanced, with a very fresh finish.

Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes: From vines over 45 years old. A wine of crystalline energy and remarkable precision, marked by floral aromas, notes of grapefruit, a lush and rounded palate, with abundant fruit and elegance.

Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières: The flagship of the domaine, sourced from its oldest vines (approximately 65 to 70 years old). A perfectly balanced wine with a satiny, refined palate, endowed with good acidity, richness, great complexity, and remarkable length. Notes of pear, white flowers, green apple, nutmeg, and spices.

Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières: An emblematic Premier Cru from Meursault, sourced from vines of approximately 35 years old on highly calcareous soils. A broad and powerful wine with beautiful tension, pronounced mineral freshness, and a refined structure. Ideal with white meats or grilled fish.

Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots: A precious Premier Cru with a taut mineral framework, expressing notes of candied citrus, yellow fruits, and a touch of flint, on an elegant and persistent palate.

Meursault rouge: A rare expression of Pinot Noir in Meursault — a curious and delicate wine with a light color and an elegant, fruity profile, a must-discover for lovers of Burgundian curiosities.

Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Morgeot (Tête du Clos and Grand Clos): White Premiers Crus from Chassagne, combining the typical richness of the village with a precise mineral framework. Notes of white fruits, toasted hazelnuts, and flowers, with an ample and taut palate.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Épenottes: An elegant and fruity red Premier Cru from the Côte de Beaune, marked by aromas of cherry, raspberry, and gentle spices, with a silky and harmonious palate.

Volnay 1er Cru Santenots: A charming Premier Cru with a deep ruby color, a floral fragrance underscored by red berries and plums. A round, supple palate with spiced flesh, great balance, and the typical charm of Volnay.

Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds: From vines over 35 years old, this Premier Cru stands out for its complex fragrance of plums and spices, on a deep, taut, and refined palate, built for cellaring over several years.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles: From vines over 40 years old, this deep Premier Cru develops a luscious nose of plums, dark berries, and floral spices. A dense, structured palate with successive layers of fruit and spice — an excellent wine for cellaring.

Pommard 1er Cru La Refène: A thoroughbred Premier Cru with sappy, powerful substance — the hallmark of great Pommard — here combined with greater elegance and finesse thanks to the house style.