Ballot-Millot

An Atherton Wine Imports Direct Domaine

Long-time wine writer John Tilson has heralded Charles Ballot as a “rising star of gorgeous red and white Burgundy.” We heartily agree with him. After Charles took over from his father, he began to farm his 11.5 hectares using an approach the French refer to as lutte raisonée, meaning ‘the reasoned fight.’ With this agricultural philosophy, the vineyards are farmed organically, unless a significant threat to the vineyard warrants more extreme intervention.

Ballot’s work in the cuverie is modern and forward thinking. His winemaking starts on sorting tables set up in the vineyard, eliminating the leaves and any damaged grapes before anything is moved into the cellar. He de-stems completely and presses into barrel for fermentation – this begins naturally with the native yeasts that come in from each vineyard, and progresses very slowly in his cold cellar.