Domaine Roulot
Burgundy
Côte de Beaune
Domaine Roulot is an old family estate based in Meursault since 1820. Today, it is managed by Jean-Marc Roulot, who took over in 1989 after giving up his acting career in Paris. Since his return to Meursault, Jean-Marc has increased the domaine’s holdings through a mix of vineyard purchases and fermage contracts.
Since the early 1990s, he has set the domaine on a path to organic farming. No herbicides are used; only plowing is employed, and all treatments are managed to minimize any effect on the vineyards’ natural microbial life. The age of the vines is relatively high due to significant replanting done by Jean-Marc’s father, Guy, in the 1950s.
Jean-Marc believes in early and short pruning to avoid the need for green pruning later in the growing season. His goal is to deliver perfect fruit, and he would rather pick a day or two early than risk picking two days late. His careful attention to detail in the vineyards is complemented by exceptional winemaking skills, which have brought the domaine international acclaim. His philosophy is to make wines that he would like to drink, rather than wines that will simply appeal to modern palates. The élevage is relatively long, lasting around 18 months, during which the wines are racked into stainless steel tanks after a year. They stay on their lees, reducing the need for bâtonnage.
The result is a range of wines with a good line of energy through their core, featuring a silky texture, purity, and transparency of terroir. The Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières, purchased by the Roulots in 1976 and planted in the 1940s, is the jewel in the crown of Roulot’s holdings, though it is produced in very small quantities.
Starting with the 2014 vintage, Jean-Marc Roulot created a micro-négociant project that he considers a natural extension of the domaine’s portfolio. The selection of grapes from fellow growers is stringent, and only wines not already part of the domaine’s portfolio are produced.
Jean-Marc advises on the harvest date, and the fruit arriving at the domaine’s cuverie receives the same meticulous treatment as the other wines, including vinification, élevage in barrels, and the bottling process.
As of 2023, Jean-Marc decided to stop all his négociant wines and let his son Félicien focus on producing domaine wines.
