Domaine Guillot-Broux

Cruzille, Mâconnais

Domaine Guillot-Broux is a leading domaine in the Mâcon who believe in the importance of working organically and naturally for the benefit of the wine, the earth and man. Their philosophies go well beyond a need for recognition or green marketing.

The history of working with nature at the domaine actually goes back to Pierre Guillot, whom the domaine claims established the first consciously organic vineyard in Burgundy in 1954. Pierre took part in meetings and followed the teachings of natural wine growing and making pioneers Max Léglise and Jules Chauvet, and early bio proponent André Birre, in reaction to the agrochemical revolution that followed WWII.

The current domaine was established by his 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 from their efforts in the vines. The energy and vitality of living wines shines through thanks to their natural philosophies.