Robert Ampeau

History of Domaine Robert Ampeau

The history of Domaine Robert Ampeau & Fils has its roots in Meursault as far back as the eighteenth century, where the Ampeau family has cultivated the vine from father to son for several generations. Michel Ampeau's grandfather acquired in the early 1900s the precious plot of Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières (1 hectare, located in the lower part of the climat, Perrières-Dessous), which would become one of the estate's most emblematic cuvées. Later, Robert Ampeau, heir to the property, expanded the family's viticultural heritage with strategic acquisitions, notably Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes in the 1950s, then Blagny 1er Cru La Pièce sous le Bois in 1973.

At his parents' wedding in the 1940s, additional plots came through the maternal branch (Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Fourneaux, Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi). Robert Ampeau, a legendary figure in Burgundy, profoundly shaped the identity of the estate through his unique approach: he always waited far longer than his peers before releasing his wines for sale, thus creating a veritable time reserve across six cellars scattered around Meursault, among the coldest in the region. Upon his death in 2004 (sometimes dated 2008), Robert Ampeau left behind a "capsule of Burgundies" held in waiting. Today, his son Michel Ampeau perpetuates this exceptional tradition, releasing each year a precious selection of old vintages (sometimes from 1996 to 2005, sometimes even older), sought after by the greatest enthusiasts the world over.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Robert Ampeau

The vineyard of Domaine Robert Ampeau extends over 9.3 hectares (sometimes 10 depending on the year), spread across around ten of the most prestigious appellations of the Côte de Beaune. In Meursault, the estate cultivates several village plots (notably the lieux-dits Sous la Velle and Les Crotots) as well as the Premiers Crus Les Perrières (a historic plot acquired in the early 1900s) and La Pièce sous le Bois (1.6 ha, Robert Ampeau's last acquisition in 1973, planted entirely in Chardonnay on a cool hillside surrounded by trees). In Puligny-Montrachet, the estate owns Les Combettes, a gently sloping climat situated at the northern boundary of the appellation, on the border with Meursault.

For the reds, the estate grows notably Volnay 1er Cru Santenots (a mid-slope plot acquired in stages since the early twentieth century), Pommard, Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi (at the boundary of Savigny-lès-Beaune, plots that came through the maternal branch in the 1940s), Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Fourneaux, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Ecussaux and Blagny 1er Cru La Pièce sous le Bois in red. The soils are typically Burgundian, clay-limestone on the Premiers Crus of Meursault and Puligny, marl-limestone on Volnay and Beaune, with nuances specific to each climat. The vines are tended according to traditional, biologically inspired principles, with extreme care given to the balance of the vineyard. Harvesting is entirely by hand, followed by rigorous sorting at the winery.

Winemaking at Domaine Robert Ampeau

In the cellar, Domaine Robert Ampeau & Fils applies winemaking methods faithful to the great Burgundian tradition, inherited from Robert Ampeau and faithfully preserved by his son Michel. For the whites, Chardonnay grapes are pressed in a pneumatic press, followed by settling. Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place entirely in barrels, with a measured proportion of new oak (10 to 25% depending on the cuvées and vintages). The ageing then continues on fine lees for an extended period, in the vaulted cellars of Meursault, which rank among the coldest in the region.

For the reds, Pinot Noir grapes are vinified according to traditional Burgundian methods, with cold pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation in vats and extended ageing in oak casks (often in old foudres and traditional pièces). The goal is to produce powerful, structured and patient wines that require time to open up. The estate's unique signature then rests on its extremely prolonged ageing and bottle maturation before release: the wines are stored in the six family cellars for decades before being released. This approach yields wines of intact freshness despite their age, of great aromatic complexity, of astonishing fruit purity and of crystalline tension that draw the admiration of critics worldwide.

The cuvées of Domaine Robert Ampeau

The Meursault Village is the emblematic village cuvée of the estate, drawn primarily from the lieux-dits Sous la Velle and Les Crotots. A powerful Chardonnay, endowed with a rich texture and great aromatic complexity (hazelnut, honey, white flowers, flint), it offers a signature that is recognisable above all others and an exceptional ageing potential for a village cuvée.

The Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is one of the estate's crown jewels, from a 1-hectare plot acquired in the early 1900s by Michel Ampeau's grandfather in the lower part of the climat (Perrières-Dessous). A Chardonnay of exceptional breed, with cutting minerality and a length of phenomenal persistence, it is one of the greatest Meursaults in Burgundy, comparable to the most prestigious whites in the world.

The Meursault 1er Cru La Pièce sous le Bois (officially Blagny 1er Cru in white) is Robert Ampeau's last acquisition, in 1973, and the estate's largest plot (1.6 ha). Located at the top of the slope, in a cool area surrounded by trees, this climat planted entirely in Chardonnay yields a very mineral, dry and deep wine, marked by notes of hazelnut and honey, with a full and fresh palate, which reveals itself fully only after many years of ageing.

The Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes is a mythical cuvée of the estate, from a plot acquired in the 1950s by Robert Ampeau at the northern boundary of Puligny, bordering Meursault. A Chardonnay of great finesse, with chalky minerality, aromas of white flowers and citrus, endowed with a rare vertical elegance. The 1964 Combettes ranks among the finest white Burgundies ever tasted.

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Ecussaux is the estate's sole cuvée from this appellation, in red. An elegant Pinot Noir, marked by pure fruit, a fine mineral backbone and a lingering finish, in the refined style characteristic of the great Premiers Crus of Auxey-Duresses on the finest hillsides.

The Savigny-lès-Beaune comes from a single plot in the lieu-dit Aux Fourneaux (lower section, village level), which came to the estate in the 1940s through the maternal branch following the marriage of Michel Ampeau's parents. A supple and refined Pinot Noir, marked by brilliant red fruit, a fine mineral backbone and the aromatic elegance typical of the appellation.

The Beaune Village is a legendary red village cuvée, capable of spanning the decades. A Pinot Noir of great purity, marked by deep fruit, fine tannins and a delicate mineral backbone. The 1964 Beaune remains one of the greatest wines ever produced from that year, still young and carrying an exceptional length.

The Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi is situated in the northern part of the Beaune appellation, at the boundary of Savigny-lès-Beaune. From plots that came to the estate in the 1940s through the maternal branch, this noble and structured Pinot Noir offers a dense palate, complex aromas of black fruits, leather and spices, and a great capacity for ageing.

The Pommard is an emblematic village cuvée of the estate, in the great structured tradition of the appellation. A powerful and structured Pinot Noir, marked by aromas of ripe black fruits, liquorice and spices, supported by a solid tannic backbone and a great capacity for ageing.

The Volnay 1er Cru Santenots is one of the estate's great red Premiers Crus, situated at the far south of the appellation, on the border with Meursault, on the middle part of the hillside. Acquired at the beginning of the twentieth century by Michel Ampeau's grandfather, then extended by Robert, this cuvée offers a Pinot Noir of great elegance, marked by brilliant red fruit, a fine mineral backbone and silky tannins, in the great tradition of feminine, age-worthy Volnays.

The Blagny 1er Cru La Pièce sous le Bois Rouge is the red version of the iconic Blagny 1er Cru plot, from Pinot Noir grown on the same cool, tree-lined hillside. A wine of beautiful colour, evolved and dense, marked by complex notes of undergrowth, damp earth, plum and a mentholated touch, on a refined palate with supple and silky tannins. A rare and deeply singular signature of the estate.