Taupenot Merme
Summary
Domaine Taupenot-Merme is a seventh-generation family estate in Burgundy managing 13 hectares across both Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, focusing primarily on Pinot Noir from limestone-clay soils with many vines exceeding 50 years of age. Their winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention through lutte raisonnée viticulture, indigenous yeast fermentations, and thoughtful oak aging that maintains a balance between traditional Burgundian principles and subtle technical refinements.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Taupenot-Merme was established in 1963 through the marriage of Jean Taupenot and Denise Merme, uniting two Burgundian wine families with deep roots in the region. This union brought together vineyard holdings from both families, creating the foundation for the current domaine. The Taupenot family's viticultural history dates back to the mid-19th century, while the Merme family had been cultivating vines in Morey-Saint-Denis for several generations.
Today, the domaine is directed by Romain Taupenot, representing the seventh generation of the family's winemaking tradition. Romain assumed control of the estate in 1998 after completing his enological studies and gaining experience at other wineries. Under his leadership, the domaine has maintained its traditional approach while implementing precise technical improvements in both the vineyard and cellar. His sister Virginie previously worked alongside him in managing the estate's business operations before pursuing other interests.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Taupenot-Merme manages approximately 13 hectares of vineyards spread across multiple appellations in both the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. Their holdings include parcels in five different Grand Cru sites: Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, Clos des Lambrays, Corton, and Corton-Rognet. The domaine also produces wines from Premier Cru vineyards in Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Saint-Romain.
The vineyards feature varying soil compositions typical of Burgundy, with limestone-clay mixtures predominating. In the Côte de Nuits parcels, the soils contain higher limestone content with rocky fragments that provide excellent drainage, while the Côte de Beaune sites have deeper soils with more clay. Vine age varies across the holdings, with some parcels containing vines over 50 years old, particularly in their Grand Cru sites. The domaine's plantings are primarily Pinot Noir (approximately 85%), with the remainder dedicated to Chardonnay, primarily in their Côte de Beaune holdings.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking philosophy at Domaine Taupenot-Merme centers on expressing the distinct character of each vineyard site through minimal intervention. In the vineyards, they practice lutte raisonnée (reasoned struggle), a farming approach that limits chemical treatments by using them only when necessary to preserve vine health. Harvest is conducted entirely by hand, with careful sorting both in the vineyard and at the winery.
For red wine production, the domaine typically destems between 60-100% of the fruit depending on the vintage and vineyard site. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts. Maceration periods range from 15-21 days, with gentle extraction techniques including light punch-downs and pump-overs. The wines are aged in French oak barrels for 12-18 months, with the percentage of new oak varying by appellation—typically 20-30% for village wines, 30-50% for Premier Crus, and 50-70% for Grand Crus.
White wines undergo whole-cluster pressing followed by barrel fermentation and aging on lees for 12 months. The domaine bottles all wines unfined and with minimal filtration only when necessary. This consistent methodology, applied with slight variations based on vintage conditions and specific vineyard characteristics, results in wines that reflect their origin while maintaining structural integrity for aging.