Fernand et Laurent Pillot

History of Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot

The roots of the Pillot family in Chassagne-Montrachet go back to the 17th century. At that time, the ancestors worked a few vineyard plots, but above all they made barrels: the family was primarily a lineage of highly regarded coopers in the region. It was only in the 19th century, driven by a new generation, that the Pillot family gradually abandoned staves and hoops to devote themselves entirely to vine growing, expanding the estate across the hillsides of the village.

Over the generations, the estate has continued to expand. Fernand Pillot and his son Laurent, representing the fourth generation of winegrowers, extended the estate again in 1992, then in 2001 with the iconic takeover of the Pothier-Rieusset vines in Pommard, which brought the estate some of the finest Premier Crus of the appellation. The fifth generation is now in the process of joining and is flourishing in both white and red. The estate, winner of the 2023 "Espoirs" winegrowers award, obtained Organic Farming certification with the 2024 harvest, the crowning achievement of a concrete environmental commitment over several years.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot

The vineyard of Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot extends over nearly 15 hectares across 22 different appellations, illustrating the remarkable mosaic of the Côte de Beaune. The plots are concentrated mainly on the clay-limestone hillsides of Chassagne-Montrachet, the family's historic heartland, and on Pommard, since the takeover of the Pothier-Rieusset vines. The estate also holds very fine terroirs in Santenay, Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay and Beaune, offering a remarkably complete reading of the great climats of the Côte de Beaune.

The soils, typical Burgundian clay-limestone, present subtle variations depending on the plots: limestone dominant in Chassagne and Puligny, more pronounced clay in Pommard and Volnay, a perfect balance between limestone, clay and sand beneath the family home at the heart of the 1er Cru Champgains. The estate is committed to environmentally respectful viticulture, with no use of herbicides, careful attention to the vine and an encépagement principally composed of Chardonnay (for the whites of Chassagne, Puligny, Meursault and Saint-Aubin) and Pinot Noir (for the reds of Pommard, Volnay, Beaune, Chassagne and Santenay). The vines are often old, some reaching 50 to 60 years of age, a guarantee of great depth of substance.

Winemaking at Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot

All the estate's wines are vinified and aged in the family cellar in Chassagne-Montrachet, which combines modern facilities with respect for ancestral traditions. Harvesting is done by hand, followed by rigorous sorting in the vineyard and in the cellar. For the whites, the Chardonnay grapes are pressed gently and whole, followed by static settling. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels with indigenous yeasts, and aging on the lees with regular stirring adds both richness, volume and aromatic complexity.

For the red wines, Pinot Noir grapes are destemmed (with sometimes a proportion of whole clusters depending on the cuvée and vintage) before a cold pre-fermentation maceration and fermentation in vats with measured pigeage and pumping over. Aging then continues in oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, with a measured proportion of new wood that supports the substance without masking it. The wines are then bottled at the estate, after a light fining and gentle filtration. This artisanal precision, combined with respect for centuries-old terroirs, yields wines of great purity, expressive, thoroughbred and built for ageing.

The Cuvées of Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot

The Bourgogne Blanc is the estate's entry-level Chardonnay. A fresh and precise wine, marked by aromas of citrus, white flowers and white fruits, with a taut palate and a saline finish, it represents an excellent quality-to-price ratio for discovering the house style.

The Bourgogne Rouge is the entry-level Pinot Noir. Supple, fruity, marked by notes of cherry and wild strawberry, with fine tannins and a fresh finish, it is a convivial wine to be enjoyed from its youth.

The Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur le Sentier du Clou is a Premier Cru from Saint-Aubin sourced from a hillside limestone terroir. A fresh and mineral Chardonnay, marked by fine tension, notes of white citrus and flowers, with subtly integrated oak.

The Puligny-Montrachet Noyers Brets is an elegant village white, a discreet yet refined expression of the flagship white wine appellation of the Côte de Beaune. A pure palate, fine salinity and the vertical finish typical of Puligny Chardonnays.

The Meursault 1er Cru Les Caillerets is a sought-after Premier Cru. A powerful and complex Chardonnay, marked by aromas of toasted hazelnut, honey and ripe yellow fruits, underpinned by a sharp mineral framework and a long finish.

The Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc Village is the estate's great classic. A well-balanced Chardonnay, endowed with aromas of apple, almond and white flowers, with a carefully integrated oak aging and a fresh, saline finish, faithful to the elegance of the village.

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot is sourced from one of the appellation's greatest climats. An ample, deep wine, marked by aromas of ripe yellow fruits, honey and soft spices, endowed with a dense substance underpinned by a precise mineral framework.

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers is a Premier Cru that is both powerful and generous, yet able to show distinction thanks to a beautiful minerality. Beneath a charming exterior, it reveals aromas of citrus and white flowers, on a straight and precise palate.

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Champgains (sometimes spelled Champs Gain) is sourced from the plot situated beneath the family home, with a perfect balance between limestone, clay and sand. An opulent, expressive and powerful wine, with remarkable freshness, spiritual notes and great ageing potential.

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse is one of the estate's most elegant cuvées. A precise and chiselled Chardonnay, endowed with an incisive mineral framework, pure aromas of white fruits and flowers, and a persistent finish acclaimed for its great breed.

The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes is one of the estate's white summits. Sourced from this highly calcareous Premier Cru yielding Chardonnays of great energy, it combines substance, salinity, depth and great ageing potential, in a thoroughbred and masterful stature.

The Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes Rouge is sourced from Pinot Noir aged 50 to 60 years. A deep red wine with a velvety bouquet, marked by Burlat cherry, juicy red fruits and spice notes, underpinned by a lush palate and a persistent finish, to be enjoyed with red meats.

The Santenay Prarons Rouge is a gourmand village-level Pinot Noir from the lieu-dit Les Prarons. A fresh and fruity wine, marked by aromas of cherry and raspberry, with a supple palate and a fine tannic framework, perfect for immediate or medium-term drinking.

The Volnay is the village-level expression of the appellation of the finest feminine Pinot Noirs of the Côte de Beaune. Ruby colour, floral and fruity nose (rose, raspberry, violet), elegant and silky palate, fine tannins: a Volnay in the image of the appellation, graceful and dancing.

The Beaune 1er Cru Les Boucherottes is a Premier Cru from Beaune sourced from a plot south of the village. A fleshy Pinot Noir, endowed with aromas of red and dark fruits, a solid tannic framework and an aromatic finish of soft spices, built for fine ageing.

The Pommard Village is a classic of the estate, sourced from the Pothier-Rieusset vines taken over in 2001. A full-bodied, deep wine, marked by aromas of ripe dark fruit and liquorice, with a solid tannic framework characteristic of the appellation.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens is one of the estate's red jewels. Sourced from one of Pommard's greatest climats, it offers concentrated substance, noble and fine tannins, a characteristic ferruginous mineral framework and great ageing potential.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots is a thoroughbred Premier Cru, marked by great aromatic complexity (dark fruits, spices, undergrowth) and a powerful tannic structure. A wine built for ageing par excellence, crafted to develop with elegance over the years.

The Pommard 1er Cru Clos de Verger is the estate's third Premier Cru gem from Pommard. A full-bodied and dense wine, endowed with a noble tannic framework and deep aromas of dark fruit, leather and spices, faithful to the great tradition of Pommard for long ageing.