Domaine Amiot & Fils

The Amiot family has been growing grapes in Morey-Saint-Denis for ten generations, but this is the first vintage from the brand-new Domaine Amiot et Fils. Their previous estate, Domaine Pierre Amiot, was split by brothers Dider and Jean-Louis, with the latter creating Domaine Amiot et Fils with his son Léon.

The domaine spans a dizzying 14 different appellations across just five hectares, in the villages of Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey Chambertin. All the hard work is done in the vineyard; Léon, whose viticultural education has been extensive, is a very “hands-on” vigneron in the Burgundian sense. He dedicates his time almost exclusively to the vineyards, paying meticulous attention to his vines.

Rather than destemming, Léon retains 5 to 30% whole bunches, and carries out fermentation naturally, with indigenous yeasts. Léon also exclusively uses new oak for his Premier Crus and Grands Crus. All of this results in stylistically charming wines: perfumed, sensual, and full of powerful fruit.

No herbicides are used. Instead, the soil is ploughed or over crops are planted. Sustainability is a key focus and experiments into agroforesty and biodynamics are underway. The hope is that through these, the ecological biodiversity of the vineyards will be improved, and the environmental impact of grape growing lessened.