Parigot

History of Domaine Parigot

The history of Domaine Parigot begins in the 1950s in Meloisey, a small village in the Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune. Georges Parigot, Alexandre’s grandfather, was then farming a small area of vines. Well ahead of his time, he bought a straddle tractor when such equipment was still rare in Burgundy. This early mechanization, which helped pave the way for many of the region’s winegrowers, enabled him to expand the estate’s vineyards rapidly and begin selling estate-bottled wine—a bold move for the time.

In 1968, his son Régis Parigot joined him, and together they acquired a plot in Pommard at the Les Vignots site. Further acquisitions followed: Pommard Les Charmots, Meursault Les Vireuils in 1979, and Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves in 1982. The winery moved to the entrance of the village of Meloisey, where a modern winemaking facility was installed. Régis Parigot officially reestablished the estate in 1983. By 1990, several foreign exporters were eager to sell its wines internationally. In 2008, Alexandre Parigot, the son of Régis and Marie, took over, putting his own stamp on the estate; he had notably purchased two new plots in Meursault and Pommard in 2005. Today, the estate produces around 120,000 bottles a year, sold to wine merchants, restaurants, and importers around the world.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Parigot

Domaine Parigot’s vineyards cover 18.5 hectares (sometimes 19, depending on the year) across seven prestigious Côte de Beaune communes: Meloisey (home to the superb 3.5-hectare Clos de la Perrière monopole in the Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune), Savigny-lès-Beaune (1er Cru Les Vergelesses), Beaune (1er Cru Les Grèves), Pommard (Les Vignots, Les Charmots, and 1er Cru Les Épenots), Volnay, Meursault (Les Vireuils), and Chassagne-Montrachet. The plantings reflect the diversity of the appellations, with 15 hectares of Pinot Noir and 3 hectares of Chardonnay.

The soils are predominantly clay-limestone, typical of the Côte de Beaune and well suited to the refined expression of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Clos de la Perrière, the estate’s monopole high above Meloisey, has an ideally exposed, stony soil that lends freshness and minerality. The vines are farmed using carefully considered practices, without excessive use of crop protection products and with particular attention to biodiversity and ground cover. Alexandre Parigot, who heads the estate, "tends lovingly" to his plots throughout the year. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, helping ensure optimal grape quality and rigorous sorting from the moment of picking—essential to producing pure wines true to their terroir.

Winemaking at Domaine Parigot

At its winery in Meloisey, Domaine Parigot has a modern winemaking facility that allows great precision while respecting Burgundy tradition. After sorting at the winery, the Pinot Noir grapes are vinified in tanks using the region’s classic methods: cold pre-fermentation maceration, alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts for the most exacting cuvées, and measured punch-downs and pump-overs for gentle extraction. Temperatures are carefully controlled to preserve the Pinot Noir’s primary aromas.

For the whites, the Chardonnay grapes are gently pressed, then settled before alcoholic fermentation, primarily in oak barrels. Aging on fine lees follows, with regular stirring that adds body, richness, and aromatic complexity. Barrel aging lasts 12 to 18 months, depending on the cuvée, with a measured proportion of new oak that supports the wine’s substance without masking it. The reds are also aged in barrels, sometimes after an initial period in tanks, to preserve the balance between fruit, structure, and minerality. This approach produces balanced, inviting wines that are approachable in their youth and capable of developing harmoniously in the cellar over several years.

The cuvées of Domaine Parigot

Bourgogne Chardonnay is the estate’s entry-level white. Fresh and precise, with aromas of citrus, white flowers, and orchard fruit, a lively, balanced palate, and a saline finish, it offers excellent value for discovering the Parigot style.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc is a high-altitude Chardonnay with a surprising nose and a silky appearance, enhanced by beautiful freshness. The palate is substantial yet balanced between acidity and creaminess, with floral and fruit aromas in a distinctive style sought after by enthusiasts.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Vieilles Vignes Blanc is a prestigious single-vineyard cuvée. It has a pale gold color with green and silver highlights, a floral nose of hawthorn and acacia with notes of apple, quince, peach, and almond, and a fresh, balanced palate that moves beautifully between fruit and minerality, ending in a persistent saline finish.

Meursault Les Vireuils is a distinguished Chardonnay from a plot acquired in 1979. An elegant wine with golden highlights, gentle, pleasing minerality, and floral and fruit aromas, it is enhanced by a carefully crafted balance on the palate characteristic of this leading appellation for great white wines.

Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc is a prestigious village-level cuvée from plots in one of the Côte de Beaune’s great white-wine appellations. This balanced Chardonnay offers complex aromas of yellow fruit, almond, and white flowers, with carefully integrated oak aging.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge is the estate’s entry-level red. A fresh, fruity Pinot Noir with red berry aromas and a delicate mineral thread, it offers a wonderful introduction to the house style.

Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Clos de la Perrière is the estate’s superb monopole. From a 3.5-hectare enclosed plot high above Meloisey, this Pinot Noir has a deep, brilliant color, aromas of redcurrant and strawberry, and pronounced yet elegant oak. Its generous, fresh palate is supported by delicate tannins. Production totals 26,000 bottles, and the wine has earned a star in the Guide Hachette.

Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Vergelesses is one of the estate’s emblematic Premier Crus. This Pinot Noir offers lovely depth and balanced structure, with aromas of sour cherry, strawberry, violet, and mocha and a fine, refined finish.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves is one of the estate’s prestigious cuvées, from a plot acquired in 1982. This Pinot Noir has beautiful minerality that combines with red berry notes to create a complex, subtle, and elegant bouquet, with excellent aging potential.

Volnay is an airy, refined village-level Pinot Noir, true to the graceful elegance of the Côte de Beaune appellation celebrated for its feminine Pinots. A floral and fruity nose leads to a silky palate, fine tannins, and a fragrant finish.

Pommard Village is an estate classic, a legacy of the plot acquired back in 1968. A full-bodied, deep Pinot Noir with aromas of ripe black fruit, sweet spices, and licorice, supported by a firm tannic structure.

Pommard Les Vignots comes from the south-facing site acquired in 1968 by Georges and Régis Parigot. A characterful, fairly robust and well-structured Pinot Noir, it has persistent tannins that support the finish beautifully. This is a wine for aging; a few years in the cellar will reveal its full complexity.

Pommard Les Charmots comes from a plot acquired in Pommard and is released as a Premier Cru depending on the vintage. A distinguished Pinot Noir with great aromatic complexity (black fruit, spices, forest floor) and a powerful tannic structure, it is built to age.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Épenots is undoubtedly one of the estate’s finest and most delicate Pommard Premier Crus. With notes of faded roses, cherry, and white pepper, this fine wine from Burgundy is remarkably approachable despite its youth. Its perfectly measured, balanced tannins give it exceptional aging potential.

Nuits-Saint-Georges is a cuvée from the Côte de Nuits, a geographic exception for an estate based mainly in the Côte de Beaune. This Pinot Noir has a beautiful color and surprising brilliance, with cherry and blackcurrant aromas, a well-balanced palate, supple tannins, and particularly appealing finesse and freshness.