Domaine Jean-Michel Guillon & Fils Marsannay Clos des Portes Monopole 2022

Red Wine Burgundy France

Jean-Michel Guillon was also elected as Winemaker of the Year 2020 by the famous French wine guide book, Guide Hachette. Trained at legendary Roumier and Jayer, 2022 95pt Vintage By Parker’s WA.

Marsannay is a winemaking village that is rich in history. In 630 its vineyards were part of Bèze Abbey. A few centuries later, in 1158, Saint-Urbain Monastery, which no longer exists, was built. In July 1443 near to the Charlemagne tree, in a place called Charme, Pierre de Beaufremont one of the great seigneurs of Burgundy, held the most famous tournament of Christianity.

This Marsannay is a Pinot Noir with more in common with Gevrey Chambertin than Marsannay. Gevrey is in fact located near to Marsannay, and Jean Michel had the foresight to purchase this “monopole” (he owns the entire cru) with serious old vines that were only in need of his meticulous attention to detail to show its true greatness. Farmed at yields similar to his Grand Cru wines, this delicious, concentrated wine has lovely black raspberry fruit, spice, garrigue and kirsch notes. Extremely fine tannins frame this supple wine that should provide copious vinous pleasures over the next eight years.

Born in Paris, Jean-Michel Guillon arrived at Gevrey-Chambertin in 1980 with few connections or resources after he retired from aeronautics. Now the estate he runs with his son Alexis has holdings in more than 20 appellations, including Grand Cru sites like Mazis-Chambertin and Vougeot. He is reportedly the biggest buyer of new French oak in Burgundy after Domaine Romanée-Conti and the Hospices de Beaune. He has built up a Domaine of reputation from scratch with the help of his good friends and mentors like Rene Galland and Henri Jayer. As Allen Meadows commented, “Jean-Michel Guillon’s wines retain a clear sense of style and grace and remain identifiably Pinot Noir.”

The 2022 Domaine Jean-Michel Guillon & Fils Marsannay “Clos des Portes” Monopole is a highly concentrated, 100% Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits. Widely praised by collectors for its Gevrey-Chambertin-like structure, it delivers dark cherry, black raspberry, and forest fruit flavors, framed by savory, well-integrated French oak.