Domaine de Mandelot

History du Domaine de Mandelot

The story du Domaine de Mandelot begins with an encounter: that of a wine enthusiast and a winemaker with a remarkable journey. That winemaker is François Grangé. Originally from Auvergne, from the village of Saint-Sandoux, he first explored the world of wine as a wine merchant and then as a sales representative for an importer, learning about labels, terroirs and the expectations of enthusiasts. But reselling was no longer enough for him; he wanted to understand what lies behind the bottles, to work the land, to feel the grapes. He then took the decisive step of joining the prestigious Domaine Chandon de Briailles, in Savigny-lès-Beaune, where he would spend fifteen years, eleven of which as estate manager, head of viticulture and cellar master.

It is there that François forges his philosophy: a viticulture of conviction, rooted in respect for living things, attentiveness to the terroir and a refusal of chemical artifice. It is he in particular who implements biodynamics at the Domaine Chandon de Briailles, experimenting with alternative natural methods with scientific rigor. After these years of dedicated service, the desire for independence becomes pressing. When the opportunity to take over the vines of the Château de Mandelot presents itself, François does not hesitate. In 2023, the Domaine de Mandelot officially comes into being, and its first vintage, eagerly awaited and closely scrutinized, immediately confirms the full potential of this ambitious project. A nascent estate, yet supported by fifteen years of experience, which from its very first year takes its place among the most promising producers of contemporary Burgundy.

Terroirs and Vines du Domaine de Mandelot

The Domaine de Mandelot extends over 10 hectares of vines spread around the hamlet of Mandelot, in the commune of Mavilly-Mandelot, to the north-west of Beaune and Pommard. This elevated positioning, slightly set back from the Côte, gives the vines a very particular character: temperatures are a little cooler there, ripening is later, but the aromas are more precise, more taut, and the wines endowed with a natural freshness that cannot be found in the villages of the plain.

The soils of Mandelot are mainly limestone and clay-limestone, conducive to the mineral expression of Burgundian grape varieties. The pinot noir vines are planted on limestone and clay-limestone soils, benefiting from a slightly cooler climate at altitude, which helps preserve the freshness and acidity of the wine while offering concentrated aromas. A notable feature of this terroir lies in the presence of compact clay soils on certain plots, where competition for water is naturally strong — a constraint that François Grangé manages intelligently by practicing cover cropping and green manuring, thereby promoting biodiversity and the microbial life of the soil.

The entire vineyard is managed under certified organic farming. Certain plots go even further in this approach by dispensing entirely with sulfur treatments. François Grangé prefers an original alternative method: he uses milk to combat certain vine diseases, in particular powdery mildew. This choice is not only ecological: milk also acts as a natural foliar fertilizer, stimulating the vine's foliar system, improving photosynthesis and therefore the ripeness of the grapes. Every Monday, the ritual of filling the tank at the neighboring farm takes place.

Ploughing of the plots is carried out by horse as much as necessary, in order to preserve the soil structure and avoid any excessive compaction. The vineyard is in the process of full restructuring, with approximately 4 hectares replanted using massal selection, with the idea of adapting the grape varieties to the specific terroir of Mandelot. François opted for a planting density slightly lower than the Burgundian tradition, 8,000 vines per hectare instead of the usual 10,000, to better respect the specificity of these soils. The grape varieties cultivated are pinot noir for the red and rosé wines, as well as aligoté, pinot blanc and chardonnay for the whites. Rows of chardonnay are already in the ground, other aligoté plots will follow, and François is even considering planting savagnin to further accentuate the singular and distinctive character of the estate.

Vinifications du Domaine de Mandelot

The cellar of the Domaine de Mandelot is the natural extension of the work accomplished in the vineyards: a space of freedom and exacting standards, where François Grangé practices winemaking that is as natural as possible, without compromise. The philosophy is simple and radical: no inputs, no exogenous yeasts, no fining, no excessive filtration, and above all, no added sulfur — at least for the cuvées that allow it.

To decide whether a cuvée can be bottled without the addition of sulfites, François conducts regular tastings from the barrel and carefully monitors each wine's stability when exposed to air. This meticulous follow-up work, carried out with the patience and attention to detail of a craftsman, makes it possible to guarantee the stability and aromatic integrity of each bottle without resorting to chemical additives.

For red wines based on pinot noir, the vinification is characterized by a high proportion of whole clusters, between 60% and 100% depending on the cuvées and the vintages. This practice, inherited from the great Burgundian houses but here pushed to its maximum, gives the wines a fine structure, silky tannins and a distinctive aromatic complexity, with notes of red fruits, spices and flowers. Ageing varies according to the cuvées: the Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge cuvée is aged in barrel, while all the whites and the single-plot cuvée Croix Simone are housed in large oak casks. Ageing lasts a minimum of twelve months, eighteen for certain cuvées, with the ultimate objective that all wines spend two winters in the cellar.

For the whites, whether aligoté, pinot blanc or chardonnay, the vinifications seek to preserve as much as possible the energy of the fruit and the mineral tension characteristic of Mandelot's limestone terroir. Maceration, practiced on certain cuvées notably with aligoté, gives birth to gastronomic orange wines, full-bodied, textured and deep.

The cuvées du Domaine de Mandelot

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge

This is the entry-level cuvée, the one that gathers the entire soul of the village of Mandelot in a single blend. Crafted from pinot noir sourced from several plots of the estate, vinified with a significant proportion of whole clusters and aged in barrel for at least twelve months, this cuvée expresses with generosity and precision the character of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. The color is a brilliant, luminous ruby. The nose is intense, with aromas of fresh red fruits, cherry and raspberry, accompanied by subtle spicy and woody notes. The palate is supple and delicate, marked by fine tannins, a lovely vibrancy and a harmonious finish. A wine for immediate pleasure, yet endowed with genuine aging potential. To be served with grilled red meats, a roasted free-range chicken or a platter of aged cheeses.

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge, La Croix Simone

An exceptional single-plot cuvée, La Croix Simone takes its name from a singular plot: the highest on the estate on the hillside, situated just below the edge of the forest. This extreme altitude position gives the wine a remarkable freshness and tension. Vinified with whole clusters and aged in large oak casks for at least twelve to eighteen months, this cuvée is described as a notch above the estate cuvée, denser and more complex. The dark fruit is intense, the profile wild and restrained, with an underlying energy that promises a very fine evolution in the bottle. 

Bourgogne Aligoté

Aligoté is the flagship grape variety for the whites of the Domaine de Mandelot, and this direct-press cuvée is its purest and most direct expression. Vinified without maceration and aged in large oak casks, it reveals the full vibrancy and mineral tension of this limestone terroir. Fresh, precise and thirst-quenching, it offers notes of citrus fruits, green apple and a lovely salinity on the finish. An accessible gastronomic white, perfect as an aperitif or with seafood, spring vegetables or a fromage blanc tart.

Bourgogne Aligoté, Les Eaux Charriées (Orange Skin-Contact Wine)

Where the classic cuvée expresses the freshness of aligoté, Les Eaux Charriées explores its depth and complexity. This cuvée is crafted from the oldest aligoté plot on the estate, approximately 90 years old, with very small, well-ripened golden berries. The vinification includes a prolonged skin-contact maceration, giving birth to a characterful orange wine, aged in large oak casks. Aged in large oak casks, Les Eaux Charriées charms with its notes of ripe lemon, white flowers and flint, with a mineral tension that gives it all its vibrancy. On the palate, the balance between freshness and roundness is remarkable, offering a saline and thirst-quenching finish. A gastronomic wine of great substance, ideal with oysters, fatty fish, or Asian cuisine dishes.

Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc, La Gredine (Chardonnay)

La Gredine is the estate's only chardonnay cuvée, sourced from a single plot, the furthest from the château. Chardonnay is marginal in the estate's current grape variety mix, which makes this cuvée all the more precious and exclusive. Vinified and aged in large oak casks without added sulfur, La Gredine delivers an authentically Burgundian chardonnay: taut, mineral, with a beautiful fruity depth and a long, flavorful finish.

Pinot Blanc, Les Bottiers

A small original touch in the estate's range, Les Bottiers is a micro-cuvée of pinot blanc, a rare grape variety in Burgundy, which wonderfully illustrates François Grangé's desire for singularity. This delicate and subtle white, vinified without inputs and aged in large oak casks, offers a floral and fruity aromatic profile, with a slightly rich texture and a lovely freshness on the finish.

Coteaux Bourguignons Rosé, La Bottière

Lightness, indulgence and straightforwardness: that is what La Bottière promises, the rosé of the Domaine de Mandelot, classified under the Coteaux Bourguignons appellation. Crafted by direct pressing of gamay and maceration of pinot noir, it develops a luscious nose, slightly fruity and enveloping, followed by a lively palate with a mouthwatering finish. A pure, unadorned wine, to be shared among friends over a charcuterie board, summer grills or simply for the pleasure of the moment.