domaine Hudelot-Baillet
Chambolle-Musigny, France
Dominique Le Guen
Domaine Hudelot-Baillet is a true Chambolle-Musigny producer with cellars in the town and holdings entirely within the appellation. The domaine was created in 1981 by Joël Hudelot and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law, Dominique Le Guen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998.
Dominique has elevated the quality at this domaine and has been described by illustrious neighbors in Chambolle as a ‘vigneron to watch’. The wines demonstrate a level of purity that could not be mistaken for anything but Chambolle-Musigny, from the Bourgogne Rouge to the Bonnes Mares.
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Domaine Hudelot Baillet boasts 8.5 hectares of vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, of which 7.5 ha is planted to Pinot Noir and 1 ha to Chardonnay. The light limestone soils here coming from the Chambolle valley give way to wines of “silk and lace”, with extraordinary delicacy. In addition to several important lieux-dits, the estate makes 3 Premier Crus - Les Borniques (adjacent to Musigny and Amoureuses), Les Charmes, and Les Cras) plus the Grand Cru, Bonnes Mares.
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Dominique is a passionate vigneron, and only uses minimal treatments in the vineyard when absolutely necessary. In order to avoid the use of pesticides, Dominique employs the method of sexual confusion for insects in the vineyards, diffusing pheromones. His minimal intervention approach integrates methodical plowing which is useful for increasing the richness of the soils and preventing the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides.
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The same minimalist imprint is maintained in the cellar. The bunches are completely de-stemmed and undergo a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Gentle pressing and délestage is carried out in order to favor a rather tenuous extraction. The use of new wood in the refining phase depends entirely on the quality of the Cru or parcel. In general, the villages level is aged in 1/3 new oak, whereas the Premier Crus and Grand Crus are aged in 50% new oak, and for all the oak aging is 12-18 months.
Dominique seeks beyond tertiary aromas, with research geared towards a pure expression of fruit and fragrance that only the great Chambolle-Musigny terroirs can offer.
Wines
HAUTES-CÔTES DE NUITS BLANC
Dominique's Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc comes from 0.84 hectares spread across three parcels located in the Hautes-Côtes above Chambolle in an area called Vergy. The wine kicks off fermentation in tank but finishes in barrel where it continues to age for around 12 months. Around 15% of the total volume is aged in new barrels.
BOURGOGNE PASSETOUTGRAIN
The Passetoutgrain is 2/3 Gamay from Gilly-les-Citeaux and 1/3 Pinot Noir from the village of Chambolle-Musigny. It is aged mostly in tank, but some is also kept in barrel.
BOURGOGNE ROUGE
The Bourgogne Rouge comes from a 1.19 hectare parcel within the village Chambolle Musigny. The vines are on average 25 to 35 years old. Dominique destems entirely and is very careful not to over extract with his reds.
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY
The Chambolle Musigny AOC comes from 1.28 hectares spread across seven different parcels: Les Mombies, Les Pas de Chats, Derrière le Four, Les Veroilles, les Athets, Les Chardannes, and Les Barottes. The vines are on average 40 to 50 years old. Dominique ages this wine in 1/3 new oak, 1/3 one-year old barrels, and 1/3 two-year old barrels.
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY VIEILLES VIGNES
The Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes comes from 0.85 hectare spread across three different lieux-dits: Les Babillères, Derrière le Four, Les Nazoires. The vines across all of these lieux-dits are on average 60 to 75 years old. Dominique ages this wine in 1/3 new oak, 1/3 one-year old barrels, and 1/3 two-year old barrels.
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 1ER CRU LES BORNIQUES
Les Borniques is a Chambolle Premier Cru that is adjacent to both Musigny and Les Amoureuses. Historically, Dominique would blend it into his Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes because he never had have enough quantity to bottle it on its own. (That changed with the 2017 vintage!) He ages the wine half in new barrels and half in one year old barrels.
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 1ER CRU LES CHARMES
Dominique's parcel of 1er Cru Les Charmes is 0.63 hectares with vines that are 25 to 70 years old. He ages the wine half in new barrels and half in one year old barrels. Les Charmes, as the name would suggest, is known to produce a more “charming” expression of fruit and this wine is consistently the most sap driven of Dominique's two premier crus.
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 1ER CRU LES CRAS
Dominique's parcel of 1er Cru Les Cras is 0.37 hectares with vines that are 25 years old. He ages the wine half in new barrels and half in one year old barrels. Les Cras is a more mineral driven expression of Chambolle terroir.
BONNES MARES GRAND CRU
Dominique's sole Grand Cru holding is a 0.12 hectare parcel located on the upper part of the Chambolle side of Bonnes Mares (terre blanche). The vines are now over 87 years old. He ages the wine half in new barrels and half in one year old barrels.