Domaine Guillot-Broux
Domaine Guillot-Broux consists of 17 hectares of vineyards in the Maconnais made up of primarily of Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot noir. The estate was the first Certified Organic estate in Burgundy (1950's) and the estate is spread over 3 areas: Cruzille, Grévilly and Chardonnay. Emmanuel and his 2 brothers make some of the more refined Burgundy that we have ever tasted. Minerality and concentration sum up the wines, the latter mainly due to the high density planting (10,000 vines/ha rather than the usual 6/7,000 in this part of France) which increases fruit concentration. Yeasts are indigenous, S02 is added at bottling in homeopathic doses and all plants are from ancient "massales" selections.
There is a great quote on the Guillot-Broux website, attributable to the transcendentalist Ralf Waldo Emerson, that reads “"We did not inherit the Earth from our forefathers, we are borrowing it from our descendants." It’s a quote worthy of repeating here because it encapsulates the thinking and steers the approach of the vineyard management of so many of our producers.
As with other producers of consistently outstanding wines it is the estate’s attention to detail that is so important.
They are organic producers and so we know the vineyards are judiciously tended without recourse to chemicals of any kind. Additionally, dense plantings keep yields low and quality high. Organic since 1954 and biodynamic since 1991.
Once in the winery the grapes are vinified separately and according to their variety and the terroir from which they came. Cruzille, for instance, is identified for its very mineral-driven wines and their ageing potential.
The wines of Guillot-Broux are that extraordinary combination of consistent yet dazzling.