Domaine Olivier Jouan

New sustainable and green top domain from Burgundy.

To that extent, Olivier is one of today's and future's winemakers in Burgundy. In the completely hip sustainable and green department, since 2014, he has cut approx. 200g of the bottle weight of his wines. It relieves the environment and work processes, and ultimately adds to the bottom line.

He prunes extremely at the beginning of the year, which means that his old canes only set buds 3 weeks later than the neighbors. And instead of only removing green grapes to limit the yield, he instead nibbles buds to achieve the right concentration and thereby make a yield. The later bud setting has the additional advantage that he avoids spring frosts a la the one in 2017, which had major consequences - not only for other farmers in the area, but also in other of France's important wine regions.

He is the 6th generation in the family, but became the first, in 1999, to sell the wine commercially. Previously, the family had sold all grapes to negociants such as Bouchard and Drouhin.

The domaine extends over a total of 7 ha, the main part in the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, and the rest spread over Moreys St. Denis, Ruchots, Riotte, Chambolle Musigny and Charmes Chambertin.

In Riotte, the vines are 100 years old and his red Hautes Côtes de Nuits are produced in 50 years gl. vines.

He is very dynamic, has his hands on all processes, and is insistent in everything that takes place. It must be in harmony with nature and aimed at making wines with the plots' own distinctive character and high intensity.