Founded in the year 1826, Louis Jadot is one of the top wineries in Burgundy. It is world-famous in terms of both quantity and quality with the ownership of over 132 hectares of vineyards. It is not only a Domaine but also a Negociant that has tapped into and gained success in both the entry-level and fine wine market.
The History of Louis Jadot
Ever since 1859, Louis Jadot started as a negociant family business in Burgundy. Andre Gagey then took over the operation in 1954 after the last family member Louis Auguste Jadot passed away. In 1985, the company was purchased by a U.S wine importer Kobrand, with the Gagey family, including Andre’s son Pierre-Henry Gagey and grandson Thibault Gagey continuing to run it.
The Modern Louis Jadot
Louis Jadot keeps growing the brand by building their own barrel factory and expanding the vineyard with modernization measures. They even acquired a few wineries, including Domaine Ferret in Maconnais, Chateau des Jacques in Moulin-a-Vent and Chateau de Bellevue in Morgon.
Louis Jadot produces both Domaine wines (made by grapes from own vineyard) and Maison wines (purchased grapes). People always have a perception that Domaine wines are always better. Indeed, this is not the case for Louis Jadot as there is no contract signed between the winery and the grape grower. The purchase of grapes is not mandatory or bound by law but purely based on quality. The Louis Jadot team is known for paying a premium to grape farmers, with an amount that is usually equivalent to a selling price of a bottle of wine.
What Makes Louis Jadot Wines So Special?
The philosophy of the chief winemaker Jacques Lardière is to minimize human intervention in the production of Jadot wines. For the reds, there will be no pre-maceration, no control on the upper limit of the fermentation temperature, and no pumping over (only punching down). For the white, MLF is partially blocked to retain acidity and fineness.
As a result, Louis Jadot always produces top-quality wine from Burgundy that is sought-after on the international stage or at auction.
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