Chicotot

History of Domaine Chicotot

A historic family estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the Chicotot house has been cultivating its vines for several generations in this Burgundian town, considered one of the oldest and most active wine capitals of the Côte de Nuits. A colourful and larger-than-life figure of the village, Georges "Jojo" Chicotot fully embodies the tradition of Burgundian winemaker hospitality. A cellar tour at his side remains a memorable moment for visiting enthusiasts.

For more than two decades, Pascale Chicotot, Georges's wife, meticulously crafted the estate's cuvées, establishing a remarkably consistent and precise style. In recent years, their son Clément, recognised as one of the finest winemakers in Nuits-Saint-Georges, joined the property. He brings a more modern approach, focused on finesse, in line with the pursuit of more ethereal wines, while preserving the ageing potential that defines the estate's signature. This family succession, built on respect for terroir and the conversion to organic certification, has firmly established Domaine Chicotot among the essential addresses of the Côte de Nuits.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Chicotot

The vineyard of Domaine Chicotot extends over approximately ten hectares, concentrated primarily in the commune of Nuits-Saint-Georges, with a few complementary plots in Ladoix and Aloxe-Corton. The terroirs cultivated are among the most prestigious in the appellation: reddish-brown soils, hard limestone over fractured rocky subsoil, marl and scree characteristic of the Côte de Nuits. This geological mosaic gives rise to deep, structured Pinot Noirs with remarkable ageing potential.

The estate owns small plots, all ideally situated, across several of the finest climats of Nuits-Saint-Georges, both at village and Premier Cru level. Some vines, such as the lower section of Les Rues de Chaux, are over 75 years old, a guarantee of concentration and depth. Aware of the environmental challenges and the specificity of each climat, Clément Chicotot pursues meticulous viticultural work under certified organic farming, with particular care given to soil life and vineyard biodiversity.

Winemaking at Domaine Chicotot

In the cellar, Domaine Chicotot follows a respectful winemaking approach, in keeping with the great Burgundian tradition. After a pre-fermentary maceration of 5 to 6 days at low temperature, fermentation takes place over approximately fifteen days without the addition of yeasts, relying solely on indigenous yeasts. Punch-downs and pump-overs are carried out as needed, with restraint, in order to preserve the wine's elegance and avoid any excessive extraction. Certain cuvées, such as Les Plantes au Baron, are vinified with 100% whole clusters, enhancing aromatic complexity and the spicy framework.

Vinified on the reductive side, the wines of Chicotot often require a brief decanting before serving, yet display a remarkable capacity for ageing. The ageing process takes place in oak barrels, with a measured use of new wood so as never to mask the purity of the fruit or the terroir's signature. This style, both respectful of the traditional codes of Nuits-Saint-Georges and oriented towards greater finesse since Clément's arrival, makes the estate a reference for lovers of deep, straight and structured Pinot Noirs.

The cuvées of Domaine Chicotot

Bourgogne Rouge: an entry-level blend made from Pinot Noir, crafted with the same rigour as the higher-level crus. Fruity in character, it reveals aromas of raspberry and cherry, with a generous, fresh palate of fine depth.

Bourgogne Blanc: a confidential Chardonnay from the estate, marked by a long finish and a very taut freshness. A straight, elegant wine, perfect for discovering the estate's white winemaking expertise.

Ladoix: a northern appellation of the Côte de Beaune. A lively and precise Pinot Noir, with notes of raspberry, ripe cherry and amaretto, endowed with fine liveliness and a hedonistic character.

Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru La Coutière: a red Premier Cru from the famous Corton hill, combining the generosity of the fruit with a sustained tannic structure, on a noble mineral foundation characteristic of the great terroirs of Aloxe.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmottes: a village cuvée with a floral and fruity aromatic profile (peony, violet, blackcurrant, very ripe cherry), with tannins that soften relatively quickly, reaching optimal maturity after two to four years.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Saint-Julien: a refined village cuvée, marked by very fine tannins, delicate aromas of peony and cherry, and a lacy palate of fine persistence.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Allots: a generous, fruity and well-balanced Pinot Noir, an accessible and charming expression of the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges, with a supple and harmonious structure.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Plantes au Baron: a village lieu-dit regarded by many as one of the finest in the appellation. Vinified with 100% whole clusters, this rich, deep wine, with notes of blueberry and silk, captivates lovers of the "old school" Nuits style, built for long ageing.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Rues de Chaux: a Premier Cru from a reddish-brown calcareous soil, blending upper vines replanted after the 1985 frost with lower vines aged 75 years. The wine unfolds notes of red fruits, flowers and a spiced touch, on a complex and refined structure that blossoms with time.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers: a powerful and deep Premier Cru, with aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blueberry), spices and liquorice, underpinned by a vigorous tannic structure suited to long ageing.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint-Georges: the iconic cru that gave its name to the town, the jewel of the estate. A powerful and complex wine, developing aromas of black fruits, spices and animal notes (musk, fur) with time, on a broad, dense structure built to last for decades.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains: one of the most prestigious Premier Crus in the appellation, situated just above Les Saint-Georges. A vigorous, full-bodied wine with powerful tannins, which requires time to reveal its deep aromatic complexity of black fruits, spices and undergrowth.