Domaine des Perdrix

History of the domaine des Perdrix

The history of the domaine des Perdrix is rooted in the great winemaking and négociant tradition of the Devillard family. Key players in the Burgundian wine world for five generations, the Devillards entered the winemaking trade as early as 1934 with the purchase of several plots in Mercurey, in the Côte Chalonnaise. For decades, however, their activity remained primarily focused on the négociant trade, under the house of Antonin Rodet. It was in 1996 that they took a decisive step by taking over the domaine des Perdrix — then little known — in the heart of the Côte de Nuits.

When the Devillard family took over the estate, the vines were fully capable of expressing their potential, but significant work was needed to equip the operation with the best technologies and techniques. Reasoned vineyard management, limited yields, meticulous plot-by-plot work, constant monitoring of grape ripeness, installation in a cooler cellar to allow longer aging with barrels at lower temperatures: the enhancement of the terroirs was achieved through a rigorous pursuit of excellence. Numerous blind tastings have elevated the domaine des Perdrix to the ranks of Burgundy's most essential estates. Robert Parker praised it; Jancis Robinson, Wine Enthusiast, and the Bettane et Desseauve guide have regularly recommended it. Today, the domaine des Perdrix represents the quintessence of what Burgundy can produce at its finest, through a unique expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Terroirs and Vineyards of the domaine des Perdrix

The vineyard of the domaine des Perdrix spans 15 hectares in the Côte de Nuits, more than half of which are classified as Premiers Crus and Grands Crus — an extremely rare configuration in Burgundy. The jewel of the estate is undoubtedly the Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru « Aux Perdrix », which gives its name to the property: with 3.45 hectares accounting for 99% of the plot, the estate farms nearly the entire parcel, constituting a near-monopoly. The vines were planted between 1922 and 1980 on clay-limestone soils that lend power, depth, and a mineral signature to the wines.

To this treasure is added a 1.14-hectare plot in Échezeaux Grand Cru, a true rarity in a region that counts only 33 Grands Crus, as well as precious plots in Vosne-Romanée Village (and occasionally 1er Cru), Nuits-Saint-Georges Village, and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits. The average age of the vineyard is approximately 35 years, a guarantee of depth and complexity. The grape varieties are dominated by Pinot Noir, the king cépage of the Côte de Nuits, complemented by a few rows of Chardonnay for the estate's rare white cuvées. Vineyard management is rigorously reasoned, with remarkable plot-by-plot work, low yields, and manual harvesting. Optimal ripeness is achieved — an essential condition for producing elegant, deep wines that are faithful to their terroir.

Vinifications of the domaine des Perdrix

In the cellar, the Devillard family applies a goldsmith's approach to vinification, in the great Burgundian tradition. Harvesting is entirely manual, with rigorous sorting both in the vineyard and in the winery. Grapes are destemmed according to the cuvée (up to 70% for Les 8 Ouvrées) or vinified as whole clusters, with a cold pre-fermentation maceration of 4 to 6 days to extract fruit aromas. Fermentations are conducted solely with the indigenous yeasts native to the grapes. A 15-day maceration follows, with gentle pigeage and no pumping-over, in a spirit of respect for the fruit and controlled extraction. At the end of fermentation, a post-fermentary maceration softens the tannins.

Press and free-run juices are meticulously separated and aged separately. The aging takes place over 18 months in traditional Burgundian barrels (228 litres), including 50% new oak for the Les 8 Ouvrées cuvée, with a proportion adapted for the other cuvées (generally 30 to 50% new wood). The estate chose to house its cellars in a cooler cave, allowing for longer aging with barrels at lower temperatures, in full respect of the fruit and aromatic finesse. The result is a recognisable signature: powerful wines that remain highly refined, with a deep and voluptuous texture on the palate, ranking among the finest contemporary expressions of Burgundian Pinot Noir.

The cuvées of the domaine des Perdrix

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: an entry-level cuvée and the ideal introduction to the estate's universe. Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir, with the same rigour applied to the estate's grand crus. Bright ruby colour, fruity and floral nose with notes of cherry and raspberry, fine and silky palate with a classic Burgundian signature. A sincere and accessible expression of the Perdrix Pinot Noir.

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits: a regional cuvée from the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, crafted from 100% Pinot Noir. Bright ruby colour, nose of fresh red fruits and floral notes, fresh and thirst-quenching palate. A gourmand cuvée that expresses the freshness of the heights of the Côte de Nuits.

Bourgogne Chardonnay: a rare white cuvée from the estate, crafted from 100% Chardonnay. Pale golden colour, floral and fruity nose (white flowers, green apple, citrus), fresh and balanced palate with a mineral backbone. An elegant Burgundy white, bearing the estate's precise signature.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Village: a village cuvée from the estate, crafted from 100% Pinot Noir sourced from several plots in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Deep ruby colour, expressive nose of cherry, raspberry, spices and mineral notes, structured and silky palate with well-integrated tannins. A classic expression of this great village of the Côte de Nuits.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Perdrix: the estate's signature cuvée and jewel, produced from the 3.45 hectares of the Aux Perdrix plot held in near-monopoly (99%). 100% Pinot Noir from vines planted between 1922 and 1980. Deep ruby colour, complex nose of black fruits, flowers, spices and undergrowth, deep and silky palate with a noble tannic structure and a long finish. An exceptional Premier Cru, built for long aging.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les 8 Ouvrées: a rare cuvée and homage to history, produced from the oldest vines of the Premier Cru Aux Perdrix, planted in 1922 on 8 ouvrées (an ouvrée being the old unit of measurement equivalent to 4.28 ares, the area a winegrower could plough in one day). 100% Pinot Noir, vinified as whole clusters with cold pre-fermentation maceration, aged 18 months in traditional Burgundian barrels of which 50% are new. Deep red colour, almost purple, a seductive bouquet of black cherry, blackcurrant, spices and undergrowth, dense and velvety palate with excellent aging potential (up to 20 years).

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Perdrix Blanc: an extremely rare cuvée, produced from a few rows of Chardonnay planted on the Aux Perdrix plot. A true rarity in the Côte de Nuits, where white Premiers Crus are exceptional. Pale golden colour, complex nose of white flowers and yellow fruits, taut and deep palate with a mineral signature typical of this great terroir.

Vosne-Romanée Village: a village cuvée in the Vosne-Romanée appellation, crafted from 100% Pinot Noir. Brilliant ruby colour, deep nose of red fruits, flowers and spices, silky and airy palate, typical of this great village of the Côte de Nuits. An elegant expression of Vosne-Romanée by the domaine des Perdrix.

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Réas: a single-plot cuvée from the Premier Cru of Vosne-Romanée, produced in certain vintages from the Aux Réas plot. Deep colour, complex nose, dense and refined palate with excellent aging potential. An exceptional Premier Cru of Vosne-Romanée, which completes the mosaic of the estate's great terroirs.

Échezeaux Grand Cru: a prestigious cuvée and one of the estate's absolute flagships, produced from the 1.14 hectares in Échezeaux Grand Cru. 100% Pinot Noir, vinified and aged with the greatest care, 18 months in Burgundian barrels. Deep ruby colour with purple highlights, complex and bewitching nose of ripe black fruits, flowers, spices, undergrowth and truffle, dense and velvety palate with a silky tannic structure and an endless finish. An exceptional Grand Cru, built to age for 20 to 30 years.