François Carillon

The history of Domaine François Carillon

The history of Domaine François Carillon has roots in Burgundy stretching back to the 16th century. Historical records attest to the presence of a Jean Carillon in Puligny-Montrachet as early as 1520, making this lineage one of the village’s oldest winemaking families. Generation after generation, the Carillons tended and expanded the family vineyards, weathering challenges throughout winegrowing history, including the devastating phylloxera crisis of the late 19th century. After World War I, the entire estate was replanted, opening a new chapter in this family story.

In the 1960s, Louis Carillon moved away from mixed farming to devote himself almost exclusively to Chardonnay, laying the foundations for the modern estate. François Carillon joined the family operation in 1988, working alongside his father, Louis, and his brother, Jacques. In 2010, after the land was divided between the two brothers, François founded his own estate, which proudly bears his name. Since then, he has worked to carry on the family’s ancestral expertise while establishing his own signature of precision and restraint. Supported by a close-knit team of around ten people, he now passes his passion on to his four children, securing the future of a five-century winemaking heritage.

The terroirs and vineyards of Domaine François Carillon

The vineyards of Domaine François Carillon cover approximately 16 hectares across three emblematic Côte de Beaune villages: Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Saint-Aubin. These exceptional terroirs, with predominantly clay-limestone soils at the foot of the slopes and limestone higher up, give Chardonnay ideal conditions in which to express its full character. The plantings are 95% Chardonnay, supplemented by 5% Aligoté for the whites, as well as Pinot Noir for the reds. The diversity of plots allows the estate to offer a mosaic of appellations, from regional Bourgogne wines to the most sought-after Premiers Crus, culminating in Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru at the pinnacle of Burgundy’s hierarchy.

Respect for living things is one of the estate’s guiding principles. Since 1992, chemical weed control has been replaced by plowing, and vineyard treatments are limited to products of natural origin. Vine prunings are composted to enrich the soils naturally. This certified organic approach aims to preserve the vitality of the terroirs and the purity of the wines’ aromatic expression. The vines’ average age—over thirty years in many plots—contributes to the depth and complexity of the wines.

Winemaking at Domaine François Carillon

Winemaking at Domaine François Carillon strikes a subtle balance between Burgundian tradition and modern precision. After hand-harvesting and rigorous sorting, the white grapes are gently pressed in a pneumatic press. The must is then left in tanks for a few hours to settle carefully before being transferred directly to oak barrels, where alcoholic and then malolactic fermentation take place. The wine ages on fine lees, with gentle bâtonnage, for at least twelve months before its first racking.

The wines then continue aging in stainless steel tanks for approximately six more months to gain consistency, freshness, and tension. The proportion of new barrels varies by appellation but is always restrained to preserve the purity of the fruit and the terroir’s mineral signature. The oak comes mainly from the forests of Tronçais and Allier. Bottling takes place during favorable lunar periods, in keeping with family traditions. Sulfite use is deliberately limited as part of a natural approach that lets the terroir speak for itself.

The wines of Domaine François Carillon

Bourgogne Aligoté is a fresh, crisp white with aromas of ripe fruit accented by exotic notes and structured by subtle hints of oak. A delicious cuvée that reveals the expressive character of this emblematic Burgundy grape variety.

Bourgogne Chardonnay, Cuvée Le Vieux Clos, is a remarkably precise, oak-aged white that expresses the purity of the grape variety with finesse, elegance, and lively freshness.

Cuvée des 5 Siècles, François Carillon’s tribute to his ancestors, is a Bourgogne Chardonnay aged for 28 months in oak barrels on fine lees. This extended aging gives it rare complexity, aromatic finesse, and depth appreciated by wine lovers.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is the estate’s expression of red wine: a supple, fruity, delicate cuvée true to the ethereal style François Carillon seeks in his reds.

The village-level Saint-Aubin stands out for its freshness and focus, offering a lively, finely etched Chardonnay ideal for discovering the finesse of the terroirs neighboring Puligny-Montrachet.

Saint-Aubin Premier Cru Les Murgers des Dents de Chien benefits from an exceptional stony terroir. This taut, mineral-driven, precise white reflects the outstanding quality of this renowned climat, sometimes compared with the best wines of Puligny-Montrachet.

The red Saint-Aubin Premier Cru Les Pitangerets is an approachable, delicious Pinot Noir with fine tannins, perfect for aging three to five years.

The village-level Chassagne-Montrachet reveals a round, generous white with appealing body and notes of yellow fruit, supported by the elegant freshness typical of the estate.

Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Macherelles, recognized by the Tastevinage, delights with its concentration, aromatic richness, and lingering finish, in a generous, flavorful style.

Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Chenevottes is a full-bodied, generous, and delicious white, combining roundness, richness, and mineral tension on a sumptuous palate.

Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Clos Saint-Jean shows a broader, more generous and structured character, with lovely depth of fruit and a persistent finish.

The village-level Puligny-Montrachet showcases the estate’s expertise, blending wines from eleven plots whose vines average around 35 years of age. This white combines distinction, elegance, and minerality in admirable balance.

Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignères, from an emblematic named vineyard, is a crystalline, finely etched white with saline minerality and an elegant finish.

Puligny-Montrachet Clos du Vieux Château offers an intimate, precise wine marked by the distinction of its terroir and pure fruit supported by lively freshness.

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Perrières stands out for its focus and mineral purity. Taut, finely etched, and exceptionally clear in expression, it is a precise white built for aging.

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Champ Gain, also recognized by the Tastevinage, reveals a refined white that is floral, elegant, and profound, true to the appellation’s highest standards.

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Folatières, from a prestigious climat, delights with its aromatic richness, generous palate, and exemplary balance of power and finesse.

Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Combettes, located on the border with Meursault, delivers a white of rare intensity, sumptuous in its length, energy, and aromatic brilliance.

Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is the pinnacle of the estate’s range. Both powerful and refined, with vibrant tension, this exceptional white offers extraordinary distinction and length. Capable of aging for eight to twelve years, it represents the height of Burgundy Chardonnay.

The white Monthélie brings a fresh, delicious note, with a lively, fruity Chardonnay ideal for enjoying young.

The red Monthélie, made from Pinot Noir, is a fruity, elegant, finely structured wine, perfect to enjoy after a few years of aging.

Saint-Romain Combe Bazin is a taut, fresh, mineral-driven white, an authentic expression of a high-altitude terroir that brings remarkable vibrancy.

The red Savigny-lès-Beaune rounds out the range with a charming, fruity, harmonious Pinot Noir marked by lovely finesse and a silky texture.