Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur

THE DOMAINE

The Domaine was formed when 2 distinguished Burgundian families came together; The Prieurs on the maternal side came from Meursault and are distantly related to the family of Domaine Jacques Prieur. From Paris-Hôpital near Maranges came the Bitouzet – together since 1860.

Today, the Doamine is managed by François Bitouzet, the 6th generation of the family. Owning 13.5 hectares of vineyard in Volnay and Meursault, 60% of the domaine’s volume is red while 40% is white.

THE PHILOSOPHY

The Domaine has been practicing organic viticulture since 2009, including the use of “sexual confusion” to reduce insect infestations, the use of organic compost when necessary, no herbicides or pesticides and severe limitations on the use of copper sulfate, etc. Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted and only indigenous yeasts are used.

The whites have extensive lees contact to develop richness and complexity with usually no more than 20% of the cuvée are aged in new oak. The whites are normally bottled between 15 and 18 months after harvest. For the reds there is a short period of cold maceration, the grapes are completely destemmed, and “pigeage” is practiced twice a day and at 35 degrees Celsius during fermenation. The reds are bottled between 20 and 24 months after harvest.

Bitouzet’s whites are elegant and restrained, rather than being broad-shouldered, old-fashioned Meursault. The reds are de-stemmed, with new oak kept to a modest level.