Domaine Guillot-Broux

Mâconnais, Burgundy

Domaine Guillot-Broux is a leading domaine in the Mâcon committed to working organically and naturally “for the benefit of the wine, the earth and humankind”. This philosophy was started by Pierre Guillot who, according to the domaine, established the first consciously organic vineyard in Burgundy in 1954. Pierre followed the teachings of natural wine pioneers Max Léglise and Jules Chauvet, and early biodynamic proponent André Birre (whose research and work was a reaction to the agrochemical revolution that followed WWII) and today, the Guillot family continues to farm along these principles.

The current domaine was established by Pierre’s grandson Jean-Gérard Guillot in 1978, after he returned from working in the Côte d’Or. Jean-Gérard recognised the potential offered by the sloping hills around his native Cruzille, which although once famous in France, had largely remained fallow since the devastation of phylloxera. He slowly began to reclaim the old vineyards, planting them to densities of up to 10,000 vines per hectare, with old clones of Chardonnay found locally. Working them organically from the start, the domaine was certified as organic in 1991 when the French government first created the Agriculture Biologique standards and certification.

Today Jean-Gérard’s sons, Emmanuel and Patrice, run the domaine along the same philosophical lines. As a direct result of the work they are doing in the vineyard, their wines are starting to approach the quality of the Côte d’Or. Their holdings comprise 17 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay in the three villages of Cruzille, Grevilly and Chardonnay and include the appellations of Mâcon-Villages, Mâcon-Cruzille and Mâcon-Chardonnay. The best vineyards are situated on predominantly east-facing slopes of clay limestone-based soils. The domaine is now regarded as a single vineyard specialist in the region, re-establishing the ancient vineyard names instead of relying solely on the Mâcon village appellations, and preserving and promoting the differences in terroir that these vineyards represent.

The wines have the richness of classic Burgundian barrel fermentation complemented by the regional influence of the Mâconnais. The presence of minerality from the prime limestone-rich vineyard sites is balanced by their intense concentration in flavour, with the energy and vitality of living wines shining through thanks to their natural farming philosophies.