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