Louis Boillot
Domaine Louis Boillot has steadily risen to become one of the most respected small estates in the Côte d’Or. A key moment came in the mid-2000s when he and his partner, the exceptionally talented Ghislaine Barthod, built a shared cellar in Chambolle-Musigny.
This collaboration brought together two of Burgundy’s finest winemakers, allowing them to work and refine their craft side by side, creating a natural synergy. Their vineyard management was also integrated, with Louis tending to his vines and overseeing those of Ghislaine.
It’s easy to see why Ghislaine entrusts her vineyards to Louis. With more than three decades of experience, he follows a low-intervention philosophy and carefully prunes the vines to achieve balance and optimal yields. His winemaking style is equally refined, marked by gentle, extended extractions and minimal use of new oak.
Since moving to Chambolle, Louis Boillot’s wines have gained remarkable recognition—not through bold reinvention but through a steady evolution toward ever more elegant and transparent expressions of terroir. With his son, Clément, now stepping into a leadership role, this tradition is set to continue for another generation.
At the heart of the estate’s philosophy is a deep respect for old vines. In Gevrey-Chambertin, for instance, the village-level vines average over 50 years old, while the Evocelles vineyard boasts similarly mature plantings. His Champonnet bottling showcases the potential of this often-overlooked premier cru, and his Cherbaudes—sourced from vines over a century old—frequently rivals grand cru quality.
The domaine’s vineyards in the Côte de Beaune are equally noteworthy. In Volnay, Louis farms 65-year-old vines in Grands Poisots at the village level, along with three premier crus: the silky Les Angles, the powerful old-vine Brouillards, and the highly regarded Caillerets. Just a short distance away, he also cultivates two outstanding premier crus in Pommard—the bold Fremiers and the commanding Croix Noires.
With such an extensive range of exceptional sites, it’s astonishing to think that all these wines rest in the same cellar. Louis and Ghislaine produce more than 26 different cuvées, including 17 premier crus. As Clément gradually takes over, he inherits an extraordinary collection of vineyards and a profound winemaking legacy.
Louis’s wines—and now Clément’s—capture the essence of classic Burgundy: delicate, nuanced, pure, and precise, with a complexity that unfolds beautifully over time.
