Louis Boillot

History of Domaine Louis Boillot

The Boillot family’s story begins in the small village of Volnay, where several generations distinguished themselves by making fine wines prized by enthusiasts. In 1950, Lucien Boillot showed his ambition by leaving Volnay for Gevrey-Chambertin, where he founded Domaine Lucien Boillot & Fils. His two sons, Pierre and Louis, grew increasingly passionate about the craft and helped him work the estate’s 16 appellations across the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. The brothers later took different paths: Pierre stayed at the family estate in Gevrey, while Louis decided to forge his own path in 2002–2003 by founding Domaine Louis Boillot.

With his wife Ghislaine Barthod, herself heir to a long winemaking tradition in Chambolle-Musigny, Louis settled at 4 rue du Lavoir in Chambolle-Musigny, one of Burgundy’s most renowned villages. Together they built a deep, cool cellar where they could vinify the wines of their two estates side by side. The estates are run independently but benefit from daily exchange. Louis oversees viticulture at both properties—recognized as a "vine whisperer" and meticulous pruner—while winemaking remains separate. In 2019, their son Clément joined the estate and gradually began taking the reins, while launching a Beaujolais venture with 4 hectares in Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie. This ambitious project has impressed international critics, who regard Louis Boillot as the producer behind one of the finest small estates in the Côte d’Or.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Louis Boillot

The vineyards of Domaine Louis Boillot span some of the finest terroirs of Burgundy’s two Côtes, the result of four generations of meticulous acquisitions. In the Côte de Nuits, the estate farms several plots in Gevrey-Chambertin: the Village wine blends eight plots, all planted with vines at least 60 years old; the Les Évocelles lieu-dit is a steep vineyard at the top of the hill on Gevrey’s northeastern edge, with stony clay-limestone soils; and two emblematic Premiers Crus are Champonnet and Cherbaudes, the latter from vines more than 90 years old and frequently of Grand Cru quality. In Chambolle-Musigny, the estate has old vines in Beaux Bruns, in both Village and Premier Cru parcels, shared with Ghislaine Barthod. In Nuits-Saint-Georges, the 1er Cru Les Pruliers comes from vines over 90 years old.

In the Côte de Beaune, reflecting the family’s Volnay origins, the estate farms equally prestigious plots: Volnay (Grands Poisots Village, with vines over 55 years old) and three Premiers Crus (Les Angles, old-vine Les Brouillards and Les Caillerets); Pommard, with two emblematic Premiers Crus (robust Les Fremiers and monumental Les Croix Noires); and Beaune (Les Épenotes). The estate’s only white is the exceptional Meursault Blagny 1er Cru. Clément’s Beaujolais project now adds 11 plots in Moulin-à-Vent (70- to 80-year-old vines on decomposed granite and pink and blue stones) and Fleurie. The vines receive exceptional care, treatments are drastically reduced, and harvesting is by hand, all within a sustainable farming approach.

Winemaking at Domaine Louis Boillot

In the deep, cool cellar in Chambolle-Musigny, Louis and Clément Boillot practice classic, meticulous, low-intervention winemaking, faithful to the philosophy inherited from Lucien Boillot: take your time. For the reds, after hand-harvesting and rigorous sorting, the Pinot Noir grapes are fully destemmed before a cold pre-fermentation maceration lasting several days. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in tanks over about three weeks, with measured pump-overs and punch-downs. The wines are then transferred to barrels for malolactic fermentation.

Oak-barrel aging lasts 12 to 18 months depending on the cuvée, with new oak used sparingly (no more than 20% for the most structured wines). Bottling takes place without fining or filtration so the identity of the terroir can shine through. Clément Boillot has brought his own methods and a heightened pursuit of purity and transparency, expressed in both the "old-school" Pinots and the "new-school" Beaujolais Gamays. The approach produces distinguished, profound wines true to their terroir, with remarkable aging potential, praised by Wine Advocate, Burghound and leading international importers.

The Cuvées of Domaine Louis Boillot

Meursault 1er Cru Blagny is the estate’s only white, from this rare Premier Cru climat on the border of Meursault and Puligny. A distinguished Chardonnay with pronounced minerality and remarkable aromatic elegance, it follows the finest tradition of great Côte de Beaune whites.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir is the estate’s entry-level wine. Generous yet precise, it is marked by bright fruit and an elegant structure true to the house style.

Bourgogne Mousseux is an original cuvée from the estate, made from Pinot Noir using the traditional method. Fine, elegant bubbles and bright fruit make for a festive yet refined wine.

Côte de Nuits-Villages is a distinctive regional Pinot Noir cuvée, marked by black-fruit aromas and a fine mineral thread.

Gevrey-Chambertin Village blends eight plots, all planted with vines at least 60 years old. This Pinot Noir has a fragrant bouquet that sometimes recalls wines from Morey-Saint-Denis, in a style often more floral than is typical of Gevrey. It gains power and body while retaining the estate’s characteristic finesse.

Gevrey-Chambertin Les Évocelles is an emblematic single-plot cuvée. It comes from a 39-are plot of vines more than 50 years old at the top of the hill on Gevrey’s northeastern edge, neighboring the Les Goulots, Les Champeaux and Combe aux Moines Premiers Crus. Stony clay-limestone soils and 16 months of barrel aging yield a tannic, structured wine that needs time in the cellar.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champonnet shows that this little-known climat ranks among Gevrey’s finest Premiers Crus. A powerful, complex wine marked by black fruit, spice and forest-floor aromas, supported by a noble tannic structure.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes is one of the estate’s flagships, made from vines more than 90 years old. Frequently of Grand Cru quality, this Pinot Noir develops dense fruit, complex aromas and excellent aging potential.

Chambolle-Musigny Village comes largely from the Beaux Bruns lieu-dit, part of which qualifies only for the village appellation, with an additional contribution from Derrière la Four. This Pinot Noir offers aromas of raspberry, spice, dark chocolate and potpourri, with a layered, fleshy, medium- to full-bodied palate and a long, penetrating finish.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Beaux Bruns comes from the Premier Cru portion of a purchase shared with Ghislaine Barthod. Louis Boillot makes a remarkable cuvée that preserves the climat’s soft texture and fine chalky notes, alongside smoky hints of peat, blood, tart black fruit and bold spice.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers is a profound Premier Cru from nearly century-old vines (over 90 years old). Its nose of candied red fruit is light and airy, with peony notes; the palate is exceptionally elegant and long, as though the vines were giving back in the glass what they draw from deep in the soil.

Beaune Les Épenotes is a red village-level cuvée from Beaune. This balanced, fruit-forward Pinot Noir shows cherry and raspberry notes true to the house style.

Volnay Grands Poisots is a village-level cuvée from the Pommard side of Volnay, made from vines at least 60 years old planted in clay soil with some rocks. It has a soft, concentrated bouquet of black cherry, wild strawberry and gentle spice, a fleshy texture with fresh, structuring tannins, and a slightly full-bodied, spicy finish. A Pinot Noir with character.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Angles is a supple, refined Premier Cru. This Pinot Noir has generous fruit, a fine structure and a fragrant finish, true to Volnay’s graceful elegance.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards comes from old vines. An intense, profound Pinot Noir, it is marked by dense fruit and complex aromas.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets is one of Volnay’s most prestigious Premiers Crus. A Pinot Noir of great distinction, it has a superb fruit-driven nose (red cherry, raspberry, cherry compote) and a concentrated, fruity, silky palate supported by fine tannins. A wine for the cellar.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers is a robust Premier Cru on the border with Volnay, adjoining Volnay’s Les Frémiets. This Pinot Noir has a brilliant blue-tinged garnet color, almost black in the glass, with ripe black fruit and spice notes. The palate is lively and powerful, with blackberry and blueberry flavors and fine but still very energetic tannins. An outstanding wine for the cellar.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires is the estate’s other Pommard flagship, considered a monumental Premier Cru. A Pinot Noir of great distinction, it has dense fruit, noble tannins and excellent aging potential.