2023 Domaine Jean-Michel Guillon & Fils Bourgogne Les Graviers Pinot Noir

Les Graviers is a special vineyard site in Chambolle-Musigny, planted with 30-year-old vines rooted in clay and gravel soils. The gravel in the soil helps keep the vines cool during hot summers, producing Pinot Noir with elegance, good structure, and a distinct mineral edge.

Although this is  labeled as "Bourgogne Rouge", it is actually closer to a village-level wine because most of the fruit comes from younger vines near the village of Chambolle-Musigny—wines from that area typically sell for about twice the price. This makes Les Graviers an exceptional value, offering the finesse and character associated with Chambolle’s terroir at a more accessible level.

Born in the vibrant city of Paris to parents with a military tradition, Jean-Michel Guillon took a different path. After his service in the Polynesian Islands, he embarked on a remarkable journey into the world of wine. In 1980, he began his wine venture with just over 5 acres of land. Importantly, he apprenticed with the one and only Henri Jayer. Over four decades, he transformed this humble beginning into a sprawling estate that now encompasses 37 acres spread across more than 20 appellations. It's a story of dedication, love for the land, and the pursuit of perfection. The winery is located across the street from famed Dom. Trapet (check their prices by way of comparison) in Gevrey Chambertin. 

As the years rolled by, Jean-Michel Guillon's son, Alexis, showed a deep passion for the vineyard. He eagerly joined his father in their shared pursuit of winemaking excellence. After gaining valuable experience in some of France's most prestigious wine regions, including Chambolle Musigny, Beaujolais, and Pic Saint Loup, Alexis became the driving force behind the family estate. Today, he stands as the reference person in Gevrey Chambertin, a true connoisseur, and a wise man of the land carrying forward the family's proud tradition.

Alexis spent two years training at the legendary Domaine G. Roumier, one of Burgundy’s most revered estates, where the collectible wines routinely fetch many hundreds to thousands of dollars per bottle. That kind of experience doesn’t just teach winemaking—it shapes a master. Alexis makes more than twenty wines each year, only from plots that the family owns. He believes producing wines with longevity means oak aging, and most of the wines see 100% new French oak for 15 months. These are wines that are delicious and bold in their youth and hit a wonderful stride after 3-5 years with the top wines gracefully improving for 25+ years.

The Guillon family understands the importance of preserving the environment for future generations of winemakers and caring for the vines by hand. When you meet the Guillon family, you recognize from their hands that they are true Burgundian farmers, who happen to make some outstanding wines from premium plots in Gevrey Chambertin. Alexis controls the process from start to finish. He is one of the few winery owners who actually travels to the French forests and picks out the trees to make the barrels that he will use. This is a process that requires three years of waiting time as the trees grow and until the wood is cut and seasoned for use in the barrels. This level of meticulous care and control is what makes Dom. Guillon stand out and above many of the neighboring wineries and why these wines sell out within 90 days of release every year. The wines are very consistent and there are more than 2,500 French wine lovers in the know who are on the winery mailing list.

This means the amount of wine that is available to US clients is very limited.