Sylvain Loichet
Summary
Domaine Sylvain Loichet is a family-owned Burgundy estate based in Chorey-lès-Beaune, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from diverse limestone and clay terroirs across both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Since founding the domaine in his early twenties around 2004, Sylvain has transformed his family's grape-selling operation into a respected producer combining traditional methods with sustainable viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking that showcases site-specific expression.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Sylvain Loichet is a Burgundian wine estate based in Chorey-lès-Beaune, established around 2004-2005 when Sylvain Loichet took over his family's vineyards. Prior to Sylvain's leadership, the family had primarily sold their grapes to négociants rather than producing estate-bottled wines. This transition marks an important shift in the family's approach to viticulture and winemaking.
Sylvain, who took control of the domaine in his early twenties, represents part of a new generation of Burgundian winemakers who emerged in the early 2000s. The domaine remains independently owned and operated by Sylvain himself, maintaining the family-owned structure typical of traditional Burgundy estates.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Sylvain Loichet works with vineyards across both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits regions of Burgundy, with their home base in Chorey-lès-Beaune. The estate likely encompasses between 5-15 hectares of vineyards. Their vineyard holdings include parcels in several prestigious appellations, including Corton Grand Cru, as well as vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Ladoix.
The domaine's vineyards feature the classic limestone and clay soil composition characteristic of Burgundy's finest growing areas. Following Burgundian tradition, the estate focuses exclusively on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, producing a range of wines across the appellation hierarchy, including village-level, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru bottlings.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking approach at Domaine Sylvain Loichet emphasizes traditional Burgundian methods. The estate practices hand-harvesting across their vineyards, ensuring careful selection of fruit. In the winery, they employ varying levels of destemming depending on the vintage conditions and specific vineyard sites.
Aging takes place in French oak barrels, with the percentage of new oak varying according to the wine's appellation level. The domaine likely uses indigenous yeasts for fermentation. The domaine has been moving toward more organic and sustainable viticulture practices in their vineyard management. Their winemaking philosophy tends toward minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing for clear expression of Burgundy's diverse terroirs.