Francois Mikulski
Summary
Domaine François Mikulski is a family-run estate in Meursault managing 10 hectares of primarily Chardonnay vineyards across limestone and clay soils of the Côte de Beaune, with many vines exceeding 50 years of age. François employs minimal intervention throughout his winemaking process, from sustainable vineyard practices and hand harvesting to native yeast fermentations and restrained oak usage (10-25%), allowing each terroir to express its distinctive character with clarity.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine François Mikulski was established in 1992 when François Mikulski and his wife Marie-Andrée took over the Meursault estate from François's uncle, Pierre Boillot. François Mikulski has a distinctive background in Burgundy's winemaking community, as his father was a Polish freedom fighter who immigrated to France after World War II. The domaine represents a continuation of family winemaking traditions while establishing its own identity under François's direction.
Based in Meursault, the domaine has maintained a consistent leadership structure with François as the primary winemaker and decision-maker. The family connection to the land runs deep, with the Boillot family having cultivated vineyards in the region for generations before François assumed control. Under his leadership, the domaine has expanded its vineyard holdings strategically while maintaining focus on quality over quantity.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine François Mikulski manages approximately 10 hectares of vineyards spread across several appellations in the Côte de Beaune. The holdings include parcels in premier cru sites in Meursault such as Poruzots, Genevrières, and Charmes, as well as plots in Puligny-Montrachet and Volnay. The domaine also produces wines from village-level vineyards in Meursault, including Les Tillets, Limozin, and Meix Chavaux.
The vineyards feature the classic limestone and clay soils of the Côte de Beaune, with variations in the ratio of these components contributing to the distinctive character of each site. In the white wine appellations, Chardonnay dominates the plantings, while the red wine sites are planted to Pinot Noir. The vines range in age, with some parcels containing plants over 50 years old, particularly in the premier cru sites.
The domaine produces approximately 60,000 bottles annually across its range of wines. White wines constitute the majority of production, reflecting the domaine's strong presence in Meursault, though the red wines from Volnay have also gained recognition for their quality and expression of terroir.
Philosophy & Practice
François Mikulski adheres to a minimalist approach in both vineyard management and winemaking. In the vineyards, the domaine practices sustainable viticulture with organic methods, though specific certification status varies by vineyard parcel. Vineyard work emphasizes manual labor, including hand harvesting, to ensure optimal fruit quality and selection.
In the cellar, Mikulski employs a light touch, using native yeasts for fermentation and minimizing the use of new oak to preserve the purity of fruit expression and terroir characteristics. For white wines, the percentage of new oak typically ranges from 10-25%, depending on the vineyard site and vintage conditions. The wines undergo batonnage (lees stirring) judiciously, with frequency and duration determined by the character of each vintage.
For red wines, Mikulski favors partial destemming, with the percentage varying according to vintage conditions and the specific vineyard parcel. Extraction methods are gentle, prioritizing infusion over aggressive punch-downs. The domaine's approach to winemaking emphasizes transparency and site expression over winemaker intervention, resulting in wines that reflect their origins with clarity and precision.