From the atlas
Domaine du Château de la Pirolette
A Saint-Amour domaine in southern Burgundy, making Gamay wines from a main cuvée and named parcel expressions.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Southern Burgundy |
| Village and appellation | Saint-Amour |
| Main grape | Gamay |
| Signature wine | Saint-Amour Pirolette |
| Defining feature | Named parcel wines, including La Poulette |
The Producer
At the top of a hill facing the church in Saint-Amour, Domaine du Château de la Pirolette keeps its estate inside the village that names its wines. Gregory Barbet and his sisters took over with their co-owners in 2013, and the domaine comprises 15 hectares of vines.
The range centres on Saint-Amour, with a main cuvée and named parcel expressions including La Poulette. The wines stay close to the village name while separating individual vineyard addresses.
Place
Saint-Amour is a village and appellation in southern Burgundy. The domaine is one of the largest vineyard holdings in Saint-Amour and is positioned on the appellation's best terroirs.
The estate's hilltop position places the vines and cellar within the village itself. The Saint-Amour name therefore covers both the main cuvée and the more specific parcel wines.
Soil And Site
The vineyards combine sandstone, blue stones, clay, and deep altered pink granite, with south and south east exposure. Sandstone and granite drain readily, while clay holds more moisture through the growing season.
La Poulette comes from vines on pink granite, carrying that ground into a named single vineyard wine. The different soils give the range separate parcel addresses within the same appellation.
Story
The estate dates to 1600 and takes its name from the Pyrola flower. Its current chapter began in 2013, when Gregory Barbet and his sisters, together with their co-owners, acquired the domaine.
The takeover went straight into the cellar. 2013 was their first harvest at the estate, placing the new owners in charge of the vintage from vineyard work through winemaking. The old name remained, while a new generation began making the wines.
Vineyards And Cellar
Vines average 65 years old across the property. The domaine has converted to organic viticulture, and its vineyards achieved HVE, or Haute Valeur Environnementale, certification in 2019.
The classic Saint-Amour ages nine months in stainless steel. La Poulette, the single vineyard expression, is aged in cement eggs known as Oeuf de Beaune. The two vessels give the range separate cellar identities without changing its focus on Saint-Amour Gamay.
Wines
The range is built around Saint-Amour wines, with Saint-Amour made from 100% Gamay. Saint-Amour Pirolette is the main cuvée, while named single vineyard and parcel expressions bring a narrower vineyard address. La Poulette is the clearest named site in the range.
The classic Saint-Amour can age for five to ten years. The bottles therefore move from the main appellation cuvée to wines organised around individual parcels.
In The Glass
Saint-Amour shows Gariguette strawberry, cherry and blueberry, followed by violet, liquorice and white pepper. The palate is full bodied and juicy, with great minerality and silky tannins.
Saint-Amour Pirolette brings broad, fine red fruit, modest shape and a slowly fading, mouth watering finish. La Poulette has a silky texture, a clear tannic frame and a calm, interesting finish that suits cellaring.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Saint-Amour Pirolette. It is the main cuvée, carrying the appellation name before the range moves into named vineyard and parcel wines. The bottle presents the central Saint-Amour wine first, while La Poulette follows with a more specific vineyard address.
Anecdote
On February 23, 2023, Bill Nanson visited Domaine de la Pirolette and met owner Grégory Barbet. Barbet discussed the vintage and single vineyard expression across the Saint-Amour cuvées. Nanson recorded tasting notes on the wines, including Saint-Amour Pirolette and La Poulette, describing their different textures, finishes and vineyard focus. The visit joined Barbet's account of the vintage to a range built around a main cuvée and named parcel wines.
Final Word
The range keeps Saint-Amour at its centre, moving from the main cuvée to named parcel wines such as La Poulette.
Sources
- https://domainedelapirolette.com/en/
- https://www.bowlerwine.com/producer/domaine-de-la-pirolette
- https://ndjohn.co.uk/products/saint-amour-domaine-de-la-pirolette
- https://domainedelapirolette.com/en/la-boutique/1-saint-amour-domaine-de-la-pirolette.html
- https://www.burgundy-report.com/burgundy-report-extra/02-2023/la-pirolette-2021/