Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot, Pommard, Tavannes, Burgundy, France, 2022

Product code: 2282

Producer Profile

With a winemaking heritage dating back to the 17th century, Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot is a 15-hectare family estate based in Chassagne-Montrachet, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune.

Originally a family of barrel makers and grape growers, the Pillots gradually developed their own wine production, with Laurent transforming the domaine into one of the region's highly regarded producers. Today, his son Adrien represents the next generation, having taken over winemaking responsibilities following experience in South Africa, New Zealand, Oregon and Australia. The estate comprises around 50 parcels across 22 appellations, principally Chassagne-Montrachet and Pommard, with prestigious Premier Cru holdings including Les Vergers, Les Champgains, Morgeot and Pommard Les Rugiens. Combining generations of Burgundian expertise with a modern, environmentally conscious approach, the family produces expressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that reflect the individuality of each terroir. The wines are characterised by their purity, elegance and balance, combining generous fruit concentration with vibrant freshness, minerality and impressive ageing potential.

Viticulture

The soil is very stony, mixed with shallow red earth. Sometimes the limestone base rock breaks into the soil profile. This results in a very hot micro climate in summer near the grape bunches, due to the reflected sunlight from the white stones. The soil also contains iron ore.

Winemaking

The hand harvested grapes arrive at the winery where they are destemmed and vatted in stainless steel and concrete. The fermentation starts with natural yeasts and there is daily "pigeage" or punching down. The wine is then racked into barrels and is matured for 15 months in oak of which a third is new oak.

Tasting Note

Wines from Pommard are often hard and virile; not so with the Pommard 'Tavannes' which offers substantial body and a round mouthfeel, with cherry, blackberry and spice aromas which echo on the palate, supported by fine, slightly dry tannins. This wine has fine structure giving it excellent cellaring potential, but why wait?