Jean-Luc & Eric Burguet
Summary
Domaine Jean-Luc & Eric Burguet is a second-generation family estate in Gevrey-Chambertin managing 9 hectares of predominantly Pinot Noir vineyards, including old-vine parcels up to 90 years old across village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru sites on the limestone and clay soils of the Côte de Nuits. The brothers maintain traditional Burgundian winemaking methods with native yeast fermentations and calibrated oak aging, while their certified organic viticulture and lunar calendar bottling reflect their commitment to terroir expression that captures the power and elegance characteristic of Gevrey-Chambertin.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Jean-Luc & Eric Burguet traces its origins to their father, Alain Burguet, who established the family estate in Gevrey-Chambertin in the 1970s. Alain began with small parcels of land and gradually expanded the domaine's holdings through careful acquisitions. In 2010, Alain's sons Jean-Luc and Eric officially took over the management of the estate, though Alain remained involved in an advisory capacity during the transition period.
The brothers represent the second generation of Burguets to helm the domaine, with Jean-Luc focusing primarily on vineyard management while Eric concentrates on winemaking operations. Under their leadership, the domaine has maintained its reputation for producing classically styled Gevrey-Chambertin wines while implementing refinements to both vineyard and cellar practices.
The domaine operates from their family property in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, where they also maintain their aging cellars. The transition from father to sons marked a significant milestone in the estate's development, bringing new perspectives while honoring the foundations established by Alain.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Jean-Luc & Eric Burguet manages approximately 9 hectares of vineyards, primarily located in Gevrey-Chambertin. Their holdings include parcels in several Gevrey-Chambertin lieu-dits (named vineyard sites) including "Mes Favorites" and "Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes," which are assembled from multiple old-vine plots throughout the village.
The domaine also produces wines from Premier Cru vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, including Champeaux, Lavaux St-Jacques, and Les Corbeaux. Their most prestigious holding is a small parcel in the Grand Cru Chambertin Clos de Bèze.
The vineyards feature the classic limestone and clay soils typical of the Côte de Nuits, with variations in the proportion of clay, limestone, and marl depending on the specific site. The vines in their "Vieilles Vignes" bottlings average over 70 years of age, with some parcels containing vines exceeding 90 years.
The domaine focuses almost exclusively on Pinot Noir, with a small production of Bourgogne Blanc from Chardonnay. Their annual production remains limited, with particular scarcity of their Premier and Grand Cru bottlings.
Philosophy & Practice
The Burguet brothers adhere to organic farming principles across their vineyards, continuing and expanding upon practices initiated by their father. They received official organic certification in 2015. Vineyard work is meticulous, with an emphasis on maintaining low yields through careful pruning and green harvesting when necessary.
In the cellar, the Burguets employ traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques. Grapes are predominantly destemmed, though they may retain a small percentage of stems in certain vintages when ripeness levels are optimal. Fermentation occurs with native yeasts in open-top fermenters, with gentle extraction achieved through punch-downs and pump-overs tailored to the characteristics of each vintage.
The wines age in French oak barrels, with the percentage of new oak varying according to the wine's classification level—typically 20-30% for village wines, 30-50% for Premier Crus, and up to 70% for their Grand Cru. Aging periods range from 12-14 months for village-level wines to 18 months for their top cuvées.
Bottling is done according to the lunar calendar, following the biodynamic principles that inform many of their practices. The Burguets minimize intervention during the winemaking process, avoiding fining and filtering whenever possible to preserve the wines' natural character and aging potential.