Julien Guillot

Natural Wines from Julien Guillot at the Clos des Vignes du Maynes, 2017 - 2020

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With vineyards dating back to 910 AD that have been farmed organically since the 1950s, and three generations of experience vinifying without additives, Julien Guillot is producing some of the most unique and delicious natural wines of France!

Included in today's email are the principal bottlings from the Clos des Vignes du Maynes as well as wines made at the Clos with organic grapes from the Mâcon and Beaujolais that are harvested and vinified by Julien. (A small amount of the Cuvée 910 remains available.) All the red wines were vinified and bottled with zero additives, the whites sometimes receive a small dose of SO2 (10 - 30 mg/l) before bottling. Wines arrive Tuesday 8/31

The Clos in winter, 2015

 

No Longer Available

Vignes du Maynes 2019 Bourgogne Cuvée Auguste

The Vignes du Maynes "Cuvée Auguste" is a superb Burgundy made from massale selection Pinot Fin planted in 1964. The parcel, high on the slope in Cruzille, is on Bathonian limestone with a great deal of calcium carbonate crystal (aragonite) with thin topsoils of clay and silica. Yields of 20 hl/ha, semi-carbonic fermentation, with zero additives, bottled under nitrogen. 2019 is a superb vintage for the Cuvée Auguste with a bit of extra density due to the warm, dry conditions of the vintage. The wine shows elegant aromas of black raspberry and wild strawberry with hints of blood orange, violet and brown spice - really lovely. The palate shows a beautiful melange of blackberry, strawberry and tart cherry with citrus, earth and minerals, very sappy and dense. Elegant finish of earth, stone and red fruits. This is a gorgeous wine, and quite delicious now, but cellaring of ten years or more will create somethng quite special. Tasted,in March 2021, the 2009 Auguste was showing a firm garnet/red color with aromas of rose, tea, wild strawberry and cherry with earth, stone, citrus zest and spice. The palate was chalky and sapid with beautiful plum, cherry, rose and violet, earth, chalk and citrus flavors, elegant. silky and very long. Drink now or hold another 5 - 8 years. Congratulations to Julien Guillot for this beautiful Pinot!

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $46.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Vignes du Maynes 2019 Mâcon-Cruzille Manganite

Made from Gamay Petit Grains planted in 1953, grown on a limestone parcel high in magnesium, in the Clos des Vignes du Maynes in Cruzille, organic since 900 AD (!), now certified Biodynamic. The energetic Julien Guillot vinifies his reds without sulfur or additives of any kind, producing complex, mineral, elegant wines that transcend their appellation.  The 2019s here are extraordinary, showing the elegance, purity and balance typical of the estate with the wonderful density and ripeness of the vintage. The wine shows gorgeous red and black fruit aromas with cranberry, earth, stone and musk and hints of mint, chocolate and spice. The palate is bright and intense with blackberry, citrus, stone and earthy flavors, that continue on the very long mineral finish. Always one of the greatest Gamays produced anywhere, the 2019 Manganite is a young wine that will benefit from decanting or five to fifteen years in the cellar. Highly recommended!

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $46.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Vignes du Maynes (Julien Guillot) 2020 Mâcon Rouge Cuvée 910

This special cuvée is a commemoration of eleven hundred years of winemaking, the vineyards in the Clos des Vignes du Maynes having been planted around AD 900 and wine first produced for the Abbey of Cluny around 910. This "medieval" wine is a field blend of Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot Noir, including the old varieties Gamay Petit Grain and Pinot Fin. The grapes were carefully hand-harvested then pressed by foot, vinified and aged without sulfur and bottled by hand in the spring.  The color is  a lovely and bright red/black; the aromas are ripe and floral with violet, ripe black-cherry and a melange of lush berries. The palate is light but loaded with ripe, pure berry fruit backed by citrusy acids. This is a gorgeous wine that should gain complexity with time, perhaps three to five years (or more?) but it's much too delicious right now... Zero added SO2.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $41.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Vignes du Maynes 2017 Mâcon-Cruzille Les Chassagnes 1.5L

This is a superb, subtle and very mineral Chardonnay from a replanted parcel at the very top of the Clos, abandoned since 1896, with thin clay soils rich in iron over limestone. A great terroir, never chemically treated and worked in biodynamic farming by Alain and Julien Guillot. The 2017 "les Chassagnes" is a beautiful wine, a truly unique and special white Burgundy from extremely low yields, giving a racy, stony wine with hints of white fruits, spice and honey, the palate is silky and crystalline - all mineral with subtle citrus and white fruits, very long and elegant. Highly recommended! Only 8 magnums available. David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $99.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Vignes du Maynes 2018 Macon-Cruzille Aragonite

Carved from vineyards once owned by the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny and farmed organically by Julien Guillot's family since 1954, Clos Vignes du Maynes is one of the most distinctive growers in Burgundy. Aragonite comes from 40- to 80-year-old Chardonnay vines high on the slope, on thin soils of clay, crystallized limestone, and laced with other minerals. This wine is incredibly aromatic upon opening with aromas of golden pear, green apple, apricot, white grapefruit, honeysuckle, and bergamot; there is a hint of earthy heather honey and butterscotch. On the palate it is quite rich and luscious, in this warm low-yielding vintage, and much more tropical and salty than in years past. In fact, if tasted blind, I could see this being mistaken for a great Chardonnay from the Jura as it has fantastic acidity, and is beautifully textured, long, and mineral. On day two the aromas have softened a bit, and the palate has gained an added savory note that contributes to a still stunningly long finish. The 2018 Aragonite is not to be missed. 


  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $44.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Crémant de Bourgogne Extra-Brut Ste. Geneviève

The 2018 Extra-Brut Ste. Geneviève is a superb Champagne method sparkling wine made with Pinot fin, Chardonnay, Gamay and Aligoté - 50% grown at the Clos des Vignes du Maynes and 50% purchased fruit. The wine shows lovely aromas of white peach and red fruits, spiced pear and honey. The palate is creamy and full, with pear, a hint of red currant and berry fruits, honey, stone and brown spice with fabulous length. This is unique and really lovely - it will be great fun to share this rare wine with friends and family as a special aperitif! David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • white sparkling
  • 0 in stock
  • no discount
  • $29.99

  • Organic
  • No Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Macon-Villages

Julien Guillot of the Clos des Vignes du Maynes, makes this lovely Mâcon-Villages (100% Chardonnay)  from certified organic parcels in Viré-Clessé, Chardonnay and Montbellet, on Bathonian limestone with clay, rich in silica. The 2018 is a fascinating  and very natural  Chardonnay, showing bright pale gold color and high-toned aromas of lemon zest, white peach, pear, almond and honeysuckle. The palate is dense and supple with white fruit, stone and almond flavors, finishing with citrus and minerals. This is a young wine that will benefit from aeration if drinking now, and will cellar for ten years. 30 mg/l  SO2.

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $28.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Mâcon Rouge Selection Massale

Julien Guillot at the Clos des Vignes du Maynes makes this Mâcon Rouge from many different old varieties of Gamay, including Gamay "teinturiers" with thick skins and dark juice, with no added SO2. The 2018 shows a deep red color with aromas of blackberry, tart cherry, srawberry, black pepper, roast meat, fennel, citrus peel, violet... The palate is ripe and elegant with citrusy black fruits, earth and mineral flavors, chalky and long. "This wine is indestructible" says Julien, and it's obviously built to last. Serve with a farm chicken in sauce, and decant or open in advance, but best to cellar for five or ten years.  David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $27.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Bourgogne Les Crays

Julien Guillot made beautiful wines in 2018 and this Pinot Noir is no exception, from 3 parces of very chalky soils in the Macon - showing lovey texture, complexity, finesse and freshness. The lovely aromas are of raspberry, blood orange, tart plum, brown spice, earth and tea, for starters. The palate is soft, silky and refreshing with black fruits mingled with earth, citrus, stone and tea with  plum and raspberry emerging in the finish. Any lover of natural wine should try this!  No added SO2, 100% delicious.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $33.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Morgon Les Charmes

(Mid August arrival) Starting with beautiful biodynamic grapes from Roland Pignard on "les Charmes" in Morgon, Julien worked his magic in the cellar with his zero-sulfur semi-carbonic vinification and the result is this superb Morgon from great terroir. The wine shows the ripeness of this excellent vintage in Beaujolais and the intense flavors of terroir always present in the Pignard wines over the years. Julien's vinification has created a beautifully balanced and pretty wine with fabulous length - drink now or cellar 5 to 10 years.  DL

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $31.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Guillot, Julien (Vignes du Maynes) 2018 Beaujolais Ultimatum Climat Pierres Bleue

Julien Guillot's 2018 "Ultimatum Climat" is from a parcel in the soutern Beaujolais called "Les Pierres Bleues" -  it's a gorgeous Beaujolais combining elegance and structure with beautiful fruit, for current drinking and medium-term cellaring. The vines are  more than 100 years old, located in the commune of Bully  on an ancient volcanic rift. The subsoil is limestone with sandy clay and dark blue metamorphic rocks, giving a strong salinity to the wine. The vineyard is in organic/biodynamic farming and the wine is produced in the Vignes du Maynes carbonic method with  zero sulfur added. Deep red/black color: slight reduction then bright strawberry and raspberry fruit, violet, graphite, earth, licorice and citrus. The palate shows lush blackberry and raspberry fruit, creamy and sapid but backed with firm acidity, with violet, earth and citrus notes that continue in the long supple finish. Really delicious and nicely balanced for a 2018 - drink now or cellar for 5 to 8 years for a mature experience.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $24.99

  • Organic
  • No Sulfur