Jean-Marc Millot
Summary
Domaine Jean-Marc Millot is a family-owned Burgundian estate in Nuits-Saint-Georges managing 8 hectares of Pinot Noir vineyards across prestigious Côte de Nuits terroirs, including Grand Cru parcels in Échezeaux, Grands Échezeaux, and the well-positioned upper section of Clos de Vougeot. Their traditional winemaking approach combines sustainable viticulture, partial whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and judicious oak aging, with daughter Alix Millot gradually assuming leadership while maintaining the domaine's commitment to authentic terroir expression.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Jean-Marc Millot is a family-owned Burgundy estate based in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Jean-Marc Millot established the domaine in the early 1990s, building upon family vineyard holdings that had previously been primarily leased to négociants. Prior to founding his own label, Jean-Marc worked alongside his father, who maintained vineyards but sold the majority of the fruit rather than producing estate-bottled wines.
The turning point for the domaine came when Jean-Marc gradually took control of the family's vineyards and began bottling under his own name. The domaine has remained firmly in family hands, with a significant development occurring in the 2010s when Jean-Marc's daughter, Alix Millot, joined the operation. Alix has progressively assumed greater responsibilities in both vineyard management and cellar work, representing the next generation of family leadership at the domaine.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Jean-Marc Millot manages approximately 8 hectares of vineyards spread across several appellations in the Côte de Nuits. The domaine's holdings include parcels in three Grand Cru vineyards: Échezeaux, Grands Échezeaux, and Clos de Vougeot. Their Échezeaux parcel is situated in the lieu-dit "Les Treux," while their Clos de Vougeot holdings are located in the upper section of this historic vineyard, an area known for better drainage and optimal ripening conditions.
The portfolio extends to Premier Cru vineyards, including Suchots and Cros Parantoux in Vosne-Romanée. At the village level, the domaine produces wines from Vosne-Romanée and Côte de Nuits-Villages, the latter coming from vineyards in Comblanchien. The domaine's vines range in age, with some parcels containing vines over 50 years old, particularly in their Grand Cru holdings.
The soils across their vineyards vary from the limestone-rich composition of their Échezeaux parcel to the more clay-dominant soils found in portions of their Clos de Vougeot holdings. This diversity of terroir contributes distinct characteristics to each wine in their range.
Philosophy & Practice
Jean-Marc Millot adheres to traditional Burgundian winemaking methods while incorporating thoughtful adaptations based on each vintage's specific conditions. In the vineyards, the team practices sustainable viticulture with meticulous canopy management and careful yield control to ensure optimal fruit quality and concentration.
During harvest, grapes are hand-picked and sorted both in the vineyard and at the winery. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks with a percentage of whole clusters retained, varying from 15-30% depending on the vintage and specific vineyard parcel. The domaine employs native yeasts for fermentation, avoiding cultured strains to maintain vineyard expression.
For maturation, the wines are aged in French oak barrels for 15-18 months, with the percentage of new oak carefully calibrated according to the hierarchy of the appellation—typically 25-30% for Grand Crus, 20-25% for Premier Crus, and 10-15% for village wines. The domaine practices minimal intervention during the aging process, with racking limited to once during the maturation period. Prior to bottling, the wines are assembled in tank and bottled without fining, though light filtration may be employed depending on the vintage conditions.