Chassagne-Montrachet domaine with mostly organic farming, hefty Pinot Noir reds, and a sharecropped Le Montrachet holding.
The producer
Domaine Lamy-Pillot has 15 hectares across several appellations from Chassagne-Montrachet. Florence and Karine lead the second generation, with Florence since 1997 and Karine since 2004. Farming is mostly organic, with exceptions around flowering. The red wines are solid, hefty Pinot Noirs that need considerable time to mature. A sharecropping agreement brings Le Montrachet into the holdings while Claudine Petitjean remains its owner. Sébastien is experimenting with whole bunch vinification, a method that keeps stems with the grapes and can bring perfume, spice, and tannin.
Known for
Pinot Noir and Le Montrachet
Notable facts
René and Thérèse Lamy founded Domaine Lamy-Pillot in Chassagne-Montrachet in 1973.
Florence has led the second generation since 1997, with Karine joining her in 2004.
Saint-Aubin Les Argilliers is aged for 12 months in oak barrels.
Saint-Aubin Les Argilliers has an ageing potential of 5 to 12 years.
The story
René Leaves the Duc
In 1973, René Lamy was working for the Duc de Magenta while developing his own domaine alongside that job. René and Thérèse Lamy created Domaine Lamy-Pillot in Chassagne-Montrachet that year. René then left the Duc and concentrated entirely on his own estate. His working life changed from a split between employment and domaine building to full-time attention to the new domaine. The episode has one clean movement: a personal project was growing beside his job, then René ended the outside work and gave the estate all of his time.
From the atlas
Domaine Lamy-Pillot
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Base
Chassagne-Montrachet
Vineyard area
15 hectares across multiple appellations
Farming
Mostly organic, with exceptions around flowering
Family management
Second generation led by Florence and Karine
Range
Red and white wines across several appellations
The Producer
In 1973, René and Thérèse Lamy created Domaine Lamy-Pillot in Chassagne-Montrachet. René had been working for the Duc de Magenta while developing his own domaine alongside that job, then left the Duc to concentrate entirely on his estate.
Their daughters Florence and Karine lead the second generation, with Florence since 1997 and Karine since 2004. Farming is mostly organic, with exceptions around flowering. The red wines are solid, hefty Pinot Noirs that need considerable time to mature.
Sébastien is experimenting with whole bunch vinification. This keeps stems with the grapes during fermentation and can bring perfume, spice, and tannin to the wine.
Place
Domaine Lamy-Pillot is based in Chassagne-Montrachet, with wines from several Burgundy appellations. The range includes Saint-Aubin and Morgeot alongside the home village.
Saint-Aubin Les Argilliers comes from a south-facing vineyard of light, well-drained calcareous marl. Direct sun provides warmth, while quick drainage prevents water from lingering around the roots. The site is planted to Pinot Noir. The 2020 Morgeot shows black and red fruit, forest floor, and spice, with a well-formed palate.
Wines
The range includes both red and white wines. The reds are solid, hefty Pinot Noirs that need considerable time to mature. Saint-Aubin Les Argilliers is made from Pinot Noir, aged for 12 months in oak barrels, and has a stated ageing potential of 5 to 12 years.
The white wines include Le Montrachet, held through a sharecropping agreement with owner Claudine Petitjean. Sharecropping separates the domaine's holding from ownership of the parcel, which remains with Petitjean.
Final Word
Florence and Karine lead the second generation, while Sébastien experiments with whole bunch vinification at a domaine rooted in Chassagne-Montrachet.