Domaine Ballot-Millot et Fils

Historical

The domaine, named for his grandfather Ballot and grandmother Millot is currently run by Charles Ballot, since 2000. Further vines have come from his mother who is from the Lochardet-Dancer family.

Viticulture & Vinification

The vineyards are managed by lutte raisonée. Charles Ballot does as much as possible organically, but not if it means too many treatments.

Though not an extremist in either direction, Charles Ballot is not a fan of early picking. The whites are pressed, slowly and at lower pressure, and not protected with sulphur at this stage, especially in the high acid years. The juice is left to settle for a day, then vinified in barrel with all the lees, which are not stirred. New oak is limited to 15% for village wines and 25% for premiers crus. The wines are now bottled after around 16 months instead of just before the next harvest. The result is white wines of considerable weight but with a lively, racy quality as well. They are muscular wines without excess flesh.

For his reds, Charles Ballot has been looking for a lighter more elegant style. Now he aims for three weeks maceration, including three to five days cold soak at the start, no punching down, only pumping over, with the temperature topping out at 28°c. Usually the grapes are destemmed, but it depends on the year and appellation. Pommard Charmots does get some whole-bunch treatment whereas the Volnay Santenot does not. The wines are racked out of barrel after 14 to 18 months, and bottled one month later.

Vineyards

I have been very impressed by recent offerings from this domaine which is one of several in Meursault to have holdings in the three great premiers crus (and Bouchères as well). The Charmes plot is particularly well situated, the Genevrières currently has the oldest vines.

White Wines

Red Wines