Henri Boillot

I've said this before but it bears repeating: in recent years, the quality of both sides (Domaine and Maison) of Boillot's operation have been nothing short of phenomenal! Henri Boillot continues to make stunning wines from his négociant operations and he has become, in my view the best small négociant in Burgundy for white wines BURGHOUND

Henri Boillot has in a very short space of time build an extraordinary reputation for the sheer quality of his Burgundy wines. Henri Boillot is a rare vigneron who succeeds equally with both red and white wines. The sheer quality of these wines, including the impressive and exclusive Les Mouchères monopole, is testimony to the assiduous work he has done in both the vineyards and cellar. JASPER MORRIS MW

While Henri is justifiably well renowned for the quality of his whites in recent years a huge effort has been put in to bringing the standard of the reds inline with the brilliant whites. Guillaume, Henri’s son, has in essence taken control of the reds and implemented much change including few punch downs. Fermentation of a portion of the wines in specially crafted barrels that allow for the skins and pips to be emptied. New cooperages. The result are finer wines of more richness and texture as well as more purity to the fruit. Now one of the Cote’s leading lights for both reds and whites. ROSCOE

This is once again an exemplary portfolio of wines, all of which come warmly recommended, but there have been a couple of changes that merit notice. In 2018, Boillot told me that he continued his practice of fermenting his red wines in barrel but that he shortened the time of maceration to avoid picking up too much oak-derived sucrosity. And certainly, this year's collection of red wines shows a more completely integrated framing of new oak than last year's. Indeed, the reds are so good that it's appropriate to remember that, until Boillot's father reoriented the estate toward white wine, this was a domaine best known for its reds.

Mention of white wine is the cue to mention another development—that Boillot used a vertical press for all his whites in 2018. He's very happy with the result, and I agree that these 2018 whites possess impressive chalky structuring extract that sets them apart in a vintage that can be somewhat facile WILLIAM KELLEY, Wine Advocate