Domaine Michel Caillot – Meursault

The Caillot domaine was established in the village of Meursault by Roger Caillot, the father of Michel.  The estate includes 13 hectares of vineyards, seven in white wines and six in red, ranging from 25-70 years of age.  The focus of white wine production is in Meursault with some production in Puligny Montrachet, Batard Montrachet and Santenay.  The reds are located in Pommard, Volnay, Beaune and Monthelie.

Roger’s son Michel began working in the vineyards in the late 1980’s and took over elevage in the mid 1990’s.  Under Michel’s management, the Caillot estate practices organic agriculture but is not certified.  Through pruning and green harvest, yields are kept low at the level of 25-40 hectolitres per hectare.

In the cellar, Michel is a fanatic for quality and practices natural winemaking.  Fermentation is accomplished with whole clusters and natural, wild yeasts.  The winery has 3 levels to facilitate all movement of wine by gravity.  The wines are kept on their lies as long as possible and racked once before bottling.  The whites are fined, but not filtered, and aged in 10-30% new barrels except for the 1er and grand cru which see 50-70% new barrels.  The reds are not fined or filtered and everything is bottled by hand.  Interesting to note, the cellar is so cold that primary fermentation lasts until April and malolactic fermentation the next summer.  As a result, the wines are released two years after most of the other estates.

Michel’s wines have a distinct house style.  The whites are beautifully balanced combining aromas of lemon zest and spice and vanilla toast with the fascinating minerality of the soil, a fine, creamy texture and a crisp, long and complex finish.  The oak remains in the background and the individual character of the different terroirs is allowed to show through.  The reds are smooth and supple with pure berry and cherry aromas, round tannins and a crisp, clean finish.

 Wines Produced

Bourgogne Blanc Les Herbeux
Santenay Les Bras Blanc
Meursault Villages
Meursault La Barre Dessus Clos Marguerite
Meursault Clos du Cromin
Meursault Limozins
Puligny Montrachet 1er cru Les Folatieres
Puligny Montrachet
1er cru Les Pucelles
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru
Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Beaune Avaux
Monthelie
Pommard
Pommard 1er cru Grands Epenots
Volnay 1er cru Clos des Chenes
Distributors

Maine: National Distributors
New Hampshire:  Vinilandia
Vermont:  Vermont Wine Merchants
Massachusetts:  Classic Wine Imports
Rhode Island:  Wine Brothers
New York:  Maximum Wine
New Jersey:  Maximum Wine
Virginia:  William Harrison Imports
Illinois:  Louis Glunz Wines
Michigan:  Crush Wine
Montana:  Eagle Beverage

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Bourgogne Blanc Les Herbeux

Single vineyard that abuts Lafon’s Clos de la Barre in the center of the village of Meursault

Organic agriculture,  all barrel fermented

10% new barrels    very cold cellar so long, slow fermentation which lasts 6 months

This exciting wine has the minerality and richness of Meursault (which it really is) without the Label or price tag

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Santenay Les Bras Blanc

Organic agriculture    long, slow fermentation in barrels  aged 10% new barrels   lovely aromatics    great balance of fruit and acidity    light toast  creamy texture with notes of vanillin and lemon zest  does not have the mineral character of Meursault      but has great length and purity great example of what can be done with white wine from this red wine appellation

 

 

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Meursault Villages

Organic agriculture   long, slow fermentation in barrels

10-15% new barrels   lovely aromas of minerals and elegant toast   pear and quince fruit on the palette

Great acidity   long, rich finish

 

 

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Meursault La Barre Dessus Clos Marguerite

Home vineyard of the Caillot estate  organic agriculture

Long, slow fermentation in barrel  15% new barrels

Aromas of minerals, lemon zest, spice and toast

Complex fruit on palette with rich texture and bright acidity   long, rich finish

 

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Meursault Le Limozin

Organic agriculture   long, slow fermentation in barrels  15% new barrels   top quality non-premier cru vineyard   very creamy and rich    supple on palette

Backed by great acidity  pure, concentrated and long

Classic Limozins

 

 

 

 

2009 Michel Caillot, Puligny Montrachet les Pucelles 1er cru

organic agriculture long, slow fermentation in barrel  30% new barrels 49 year old vines abutting Batard Montrachet   aromas of lemon zest  and vanilla toast  tremendous concentration of fruit  rich, ripe and lush   very long finish  crisp and clean acidity

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Michel Caillot, Batard Montrachet Grand Cru

3 parcels  50 year old vines   organic agriculture   long, slow fermentation in barrels    big rich aromas of vanilla toast, lemon curd   dense and concentrated on the palate with full, creamy texture and tremendous length   fantastic acidity and  young and full of potential for aging

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Michel Caillot, Bourgogne Rouge

Organic agriculture  2 parcels  Chassagne Montrachet Les Grands Corvees 25 years old    Meursault Les Magnys 37 years old    limestone and gravel soils

Hand harvested     unfiltered    one year in large barrels, one year in tank

Pure Pinot fruit – berry and cherry   fine tannins

Bright, clean finish

 

 

2010 Michel Caillot, Pommard Les Grands Epenots 1er cru

Organic agriculture

long, slow fermentation in barrels  30% new barrels  aromas of black fruits and toast   great purity of fruit    ripe soft tannins

long, sweet finish  a wine of power, finesse and elegance

 

 

 

 

2010 Michel Caillot, Volnay Clos des Chenes 1er cru

Organic agriculture   long slow fermentation in barrel  30% new barrels  40-50 year old vines

Great purity of black fruits     elegant, supple and smooth   pretty wine