Rougeot Père & Fils

History of Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils

Although Domaine Rougeot was founded in the 1970s at the centre of the village of Meursault, Pierre-Henri represents the eighth generation of Rougeot winemakers in this region. The historic 18th-century stone cellar was originally built for the Hospices de Beaune to press the fruit from the adjacent orchards, and was acquired by Pierre-Henri's great-great-grandfather in the 19th century. Pierre-Henri's grandfather, a visionary entrepreneur, specialised after the war in the restructuring of the Meursault vineyard, overseeing the restoration of viticultural land and replanting campaigns. He also served as mayor of Meursault for 25 years, actively contributing to the village's renown.

Marc Rougeot continued the development of the family domaine from the 1980s onwards, progressively expanding the viticultural estate to reach 12 to 13 hectares. In 2016, Pierre-Henri Rougeot made a decisive turn: he ceased the supermarket supply activity initiated by his father Marc. This radical transformation aimed to concentrate all efforts on the exclusive production of high-quality wines. After training at the prestigious Domaine de Montille and several years spent at the cooperage Vicard as export manager, Pierre-Henri brought an international vision back to the domaine while deeply respecting Burgundian traditions.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils

The vineyard of Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils benefits from a mosaic of exceptional terroirs spread across the most prestigious appellations of the Côte de Beaune. Most of the vineyards were planted by Pierre-Henri's grandfather in the late 1950s and partially replanted by his father in the early 1980s, with the exception of the old vines of Saint-Romain and the slightly younger Monthélie.

In Meursault, the domaine holds several prestigious climats, including the celebrated Premier Cru Les Charmes, located to the south of the village near Puligny-Montrachet, renowned for its calcareous and marly soils offering ideal exposure to the morning sun. The climat Sous la Velle, made up of very old vines, produces crystalline wines with a remarkable mineral backbone. The Clos des 6 Ouvrées, a small monopole situated in the domaine's own garden at the heart of the village, gives rise to elegant and fresh wines. The plot Les Grandes Gouttes, planted to the south of the commune 500 metres from the Meursault-Charmes, brings great depth despite its Bourgogne appellation.

In Pommard, the Clos des Roses is the pride of the domaine. This monopole of approximately 0.95 hectares, located at the lower end of the village at the lieu-dit Rue au Port (or Rue au Porc), is enclosed by stone walls on three sides and bordered by the small river L'Avant Dheune. The vines planted in the 1950s and 1980s produce spiced and suave Pinot Noirs with supple tannins.

La Combe Bazin in Saint-Romain, planted in the 1920s, is the domaine's oldest vineyard. Situated at an altitude of 350 metres, this plot produces rich and balanced wines thanks to naturally low yields.

The terroir of Volnay-Santenots Premier Cru has the distinctive characteristic of being geographically located within the commune of Meursault while benefiting from the Volnay appellation for its red wines. These 30 to 50-year-old vines on clay-limestone and oceanic marls yield structured wines destined for long ageing.

In Monthélie, the plot Les Toisières, with a westerly exposure between Meursault and Volnay, offers a dynamic and taut Chardonnay of great purity. Finally, the domaine also cultivates Aligoté at the lieu-dit Les Plumes, planted in 1974, treated with the same seriousness as noble varieties.

Vinifications of Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils

The domaine has held organic certification since the 2020 vintage and Demeter biodynamic certification from the 2023 vintage. This approach reflects a deep philosophy of respect for natural cycles and biodiversity. In the vineyard, all work is carried out exclusively by hand with minimal mechanical intervention.

For white wines, manual harvesting is followed by direct pneumatic pressing of whole uncrushed grape clusters. Cold settling for two days precedes alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts and malolactic fermentation in barrels. No lees stirring is carried out in order to preserve aromatic purity. Ageing takes place for 18 months in 228-litre Burgundian barrels, with a moderate proportion of new wood. Racking into stainless steel vats allows for blending and resting for one to two months before light filtration and bottling.

The Pinot Noirs, harvested in crates, are sorted by hand and transferred to the vats without destemming, thus arriving intact and whole. Fermentation takes place as whole clusters over 15 to 18 days with 85% to 100% whole-bunch harvest depending on the cuvée. One to two pump-overs per day and one to two punch-downs during fermentation allow for gentle extraction. Vinification is conducted with cellar yeasts and without added sulphur for a total expression of the original terroir. Blending of press juice and free-run juice, filling into barrel with fine lees, and malolactic fermentation in barrel constitute the subsequent steps. Ageing lasts 12 to 18 months depending on the appellation.

Pierre-Henri declares that he discovered winemakers with a genuine sense of what it means to be a vigneron, conveying clearly the sensation they have of their wines in barrel, requiring no chemical additions or interference. The domaine offers two distinct labels: a classic label representing the domaine for wines with small quantities of added SO2, and a diagonally striped label for cuvées produced without added sulphur. Small quantities of SO2 are added if necessary to certain individual barrels. Each terroir is vinified separately to create single-plot cuvées expressing the typicity of each climat.

The cuvées of Domaine Rougeot Père & Fils

Bourgogne Aligoté "Les Plumes"

From a 45-year-old plot planted in 1974, located in the plains below the village of Meursault beyond the RN74 national road. Contrary to the sometimes undervalued image of Aligoté, the domaine treats this grape variety with the same seriousness as noble varieties. Whole-cluster pressing directly into barrels, aged half in cement vats and half in 228-litre used oak barrels.

Bourgogne Chardonnay "Les Grandes Gouttes"

Located to the south of the commune of Meursault, just 500 metres from the prestigious Meursault-Charmes, this Bourgogne possesses great dimension and depth. The proximity to the great terroirs lends this wine an unusual complexity for a regional appellation.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Les Vaux"

A unique plot of vines over 55 years old located in Meursault near the town centre, on clay-limestone. As with all the domaine's Pinots, vinification is carried out as whole clusters. Aged on fine lees for 12 to 18 months in neutral barrels. An earthy and structured wine, yet with a vibrant fruit that makes it equally remarkable in its youth. Maximum 18 mg/l of SO2 added solely before bottling.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Les Lameroses"

A unique plot of vines over 45 years old located in the north of Meursault, near the border with Volnay, on clay-limestone and oceanic marls. Whole-cluster vinification, aged for 18 months in neutral barrels. This more structured cuvée is bottled in spring after 18 months of ageing. A flavoursome and full-bodied Burgundy red wine of a classic style.

Bourgogne Clos des 6 Ouvrées

Located at the heart of the village of Meursault, in the domaine's own garden, this small monopole produces an elegant and fresh wine. The immediate proximity to the cellars allows for meticulous monitoring of this exceptional micro-plot.

Meursault "La Monatine"

Located in the lower part of Meursault, a few metres from the village plots of Sous la Velle, this climat offers a supple and approachable wine, perfect for discovering the Meursault appellation in its youth.

Meursault "Sous la Velle"

From the domaine's very old vines, this very particular climat consistently presents a slender and crystalline wine profile with a firmly anchored mineral backbone. A plot of 50–55-year-old vines covering 2.2 hectares at the very heart of the village. The Chardonnay on this terroir brings an invigorating profile and develops very fine aromatic notes with a remarkable length on the palate. 

Monthélie "Les Toisières" Blanc

Between Meursault and Volnay, with a westerly exposure, this plot yields a dynamic and lingering Chardonnay with incomparable tension. A pure and vibrant expression of the Monthélie terroir.

Meursault Premier Cru "Les Charmes"

From one of Meursault's iconic vineyards, Les Charmes produces rich, powerful and aromatic wines. Located on calcareous and marly soils with ideal exposure to the morning sun (south, south-east), the vineyard is very well tended and yields beautiful grapes. The wine expresses itself on exotic, rich and lingering notes. Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels, 15 to 20% of which are new wood. Aged for 18 months without lees stirring, unfined and unfiltered. This cuvée will benefit from 4 to 5 years of cellaring before becoming fully expressive.

Saint-Romain "La Combe Bazin"

La Combe Bazin, planted in the 1920s, is the domaine's oldest vineyard. At 350 metres of altitude, these vines yield small quantities leading to a dense and balanced wine. The wines produced on this site are rich, structured and could be considered the domaine's quiet success.

Pommard "Clos des Roses" (Monopole)

The Clos des Roses vineyard is located just below the village of Pommard, enclosed by stone walls on three sides and by the small stream L'Avant Dheune on the other. A 0.95-hectare monopole whose vines were planted in the 1950s and 1980s. A 40-year-old Pinot Noir plot harvested entirely by hand at the lieu-dit Rue au Port. Vinification with 85% whole clusters, fermentation without added sulphur over 15 to 18 days in vat. Aged for 12 months in 228-litre barrels (25% new wood), followed by a bulk resting period of 6 months in stainless steel vats.

Volnay-Santenots Premier Cru

The Premier Cru Volnay-Santenots is technically situated in the village of Meursault, but winemakers discovered long ago that there was greater demand for Volnay than for Meursault Rouge, hence the Volnay appellation for these red wines from the northern part of Meursault. This terroir has the distinctive characteristic of being located within the commune of Meursault while producing wines of great keeping potential, structured and long on the palate. A 0.85-hectare vineyard with vines of 30 to 50 years. Whole-cluster vinification, aged for 18 months, two-thirds in neutral barrels and one-third in new wood.