Domaine Bernard Millot

Rooted in the prestigious Côte de Beaune, Domaine Bernard Millot is a cornerstone of Burgundian viticulture. Under the stewardship of the fourth-generation winemaker Emilien Millot, the eight-hectare estate bears vines in the renowned regions of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Beaune. Emilien's commitment to organic principles, coupled with an eco-outlook, embodies the estate's devotion to nurturing the natural expression of the terroir.

Renowned for their innovation, they subscribe to a minimal intervention approach with the application of lower dosages of sulfur and copper treatments under the écophyto initiative. The vineyard practices entail seasonal pruning, disbudding, trellising, and trimming. The vines undergo frequent plowing, negating the need for weedkillers. The harvest period sees the whole family involved in hand-harvesting the ripe grapes.

In the winery, Emilien takes a minimalist approach to his white wines, pressing them in a pneumatic press for 3-4 hours and fermenting with indigenous yeasts in Burgundy barrels. The maturation takes place for a year in oak barrels, followed by 4-6 months in stainless steel tanks. As for the reds, they are destemmed and given a cool maceration period of up to a week. Emilien favors a more fruit-forward profile, underlined by a fresh palate.

His Meursault cuvée is a testament to his winemaking prowess, revealing an aromatic bouquet of white flowers, almonds, and vine peaches with a light buttery note, all balanced by a fine acidity. Additionally, Emilien has ventured into planting Syrah and a native Corsican grape, Biancu Gentile, in anticipation to climate change.

The efforts of Domaine Bernard Millot have led to the production of well-balanced, pure wines that are not only reasonably priced but also encapsulate the vivacious character of their respected appellations. Today, they export about 70% of their production, with France remaining their biggest market, truly highlighting their global appeal.