PHILIPPE PACALET
Delicate and Natural Purity
Philippe Pacalet is a legendary figure of pure and natural wine in Burgundy. He is the nephew of Marcel Lapierre of Domaine Lapierre in Beaujolais, whom Pacalet worked with from 1985 to 1991. Philippe was then noticed by Henry-Frédéric Roch of Domaine Prieuré Roch and took up the mantle of winemaker from 1991 to 2001. Both experiences left an indelible mark on Philippe and sensitivity towards this type of wine would seem to be ever-lasting.
The story of Maison Philippe Pacalet began in 2001 when he took the next leap in his career, moving to Beaune and starting his label. Pacalet decided to rent parcels in Chablis, the Côtes de Beaune and the Côtes de Nuits.
Today, he and his partner – Mônica – farm roughly 10 hectares of vineyards throughout Burgundy, Beaujolais and the Northern Rhone. Philippe Pacalet produces roughly 50000 bottles per year.
Work in the vineyard is managed either by Philippe Pacalet and his team directly or in close conjunction with growers with whom he has long-established relationships. Vinification is done with whole bunches, minimal sulphur, and long barrel ageing. The goal here is to best express each climat and do so gently and with great purity.