Visit to Domaine Pierre Guillemot – Tasting the 2022s

I’m back at Domaine Pierre Guillemot to taste the 2022s. It’s an exciting estate, and the the ambitions are high. And its delightful wines show all the fruit the 2022 can offer.

Domaine Pierre Guillemot is located in the heart of Savigny-les-Beaune and is a smaller estate, producing wines from eight hectares.

It makes forwardly fruity wines with a high percentage of whole clusters included in fermentation and limited sulphur levels. Even more important is the long, cold, pre-fermentation maceration – 10 days – that encourages the emergence of delicate floral notes. I love these floral wines.

The 2022s offer a fine canvas on which to produce these wines, and they are exciting. The only slight downside is (perhaps) the same vinification of all the wines. In principle, this is good, but in my view it tends to be less than optimal. In 2022, some of the lesser wines seem to be somewhat restrained. A shorter elevage for the lower-level wines could perhaps eliminate this. Go for the top wines anyway; this is where the magic begins.

The domaine

Domaine Pierre Guillemot was established in 1946 by the grandfather of the current generation, brothers Vincent (cellar) and Pierre (vineyard) who run the show. The estate is certified organic, and its style is modern and vivid, with tremendous wines. Do I prefer the 2022s or the 2021s? Hmmmm… Yes?

Let’s see what all the (my) fuss is about!

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc 2022

This is an elegant and cool chardonnay. The use of big barrels and a discreet oak treatment produce a cool, vivid ’22. Restrained and transparent, I quite like this.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good – (87-88p) – Tasted 14/10/2023 –

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Dessus les Gollardes Blanc 2022

This is a deeper, more complex wine, made from 70% pinot blanc (pinot Gouges) and 30% chardonnay, whose vines were selected from Romanee-Conti’s Montrachet. It has lovely balance (we Nuitons like the pinot blanc kick), with vivid acidity and fruit. Lively, with fine salinity – a magnificent glass.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good – (88-89p) – Tasted 14/10/2023 –

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Bourgogne Cote d’Or 2022

The Bourgogne Cote d’Or is a fine introduction to the house style and a tremendous wine for this level. It has inviting generosity, but at the moment is slightly closed behind some rather dominant cherry notes. The oak impression is perhaps a bit high (20% new). Still, it’s a vivid, fresh wine.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good – (87-88p) – Tasted 14/10/2023 –

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune 2022

It’s quite a step up to the Savigny village, with its deep, intense fruit that comes from slightly deeper soil. This is pointed, with plenty of cherry notes. It is clearly in the style of the domaine, meaning vivid and lively, with the cold-soak notes giving some floral hints. A lovely wine.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Good – (87-88p) – Tasted 14/10/2023 –

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Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Narbantons 1er Cru 2022

The Savigny Narbantons is richer and even more velvety, with its intense, cold-soak-enhanced fruit. Here we have a better balance with the oak. There are magnificent notes of red cherries and some dark fruit. Narbantons is on the south side of the stream (the Rhoin) and the village. (I’m still trying to elevate my – and your – knowledge of the appellation.)

(Drink from 2027) – Very Good – (88-89p) – Tasted 14/10/2023 –

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