Presentation

A few

small gems...

Nearly 150 years ago, Victor Boillot created this beautiful small domaine with its three 1er Cru parcels, which was subsequently inherited by Louis Boillot, the last member of his family to own the property.

We were able to purchase this historic property in 2011 and rechristened it in honor of its flagship monopole as the Domaine Clos de la Chapelle.

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We were able to purchase

this historic property in 2011

& rechristened it in honor of its flagship monopole

as the Domaine Clos de la Chapelle.

History

The exquisite monopole vineyard, Clos de la Chapelle, has a long and colorful history, intertwined with the story of the beautiful chapel, for which it is named, and the historic village of Volnay, once home of the Dukes of Burgundy. The chapel vineyard is located directly across the lane from the chapel, and beneath the walls of the former château of the Dukes of Burgundy.

The Chapel

Clos de la Chapelle is under the auspices of the Notre Dame de Pitié, to whom it was dedicated in 1540, when this spacious, Gothic chapel was constructed. The winegrowers' prayers at the Notre Dame de Pitié are famous for having saved the population from cholera, which ravaged the region in 1840. In 1870 and 1871, the Prussians turned away from the village, perhaps in deference to the chapel and the powers of Notre Dame de Pitié. The chapel, and adjacent cemetery, is a beautiful and historically significant landmark in the Volnaysian region.

The Village

The Dukes of Burgundy constructed a chateau in Volnay in the 8th century, and successive generations of dukes visited or resided in Volnay intermittently through the centuries. Robert II (1248-1306), Duke of Burgundy, received tribute from his barons at the chateau in 1272. His wife, Agnes, daughter of Saint Louis, lived there as well. The succession of the Duchess of Burgundy to the throne in 1315 was celebrated in Volnay and was ordained by Eudes IV, who would later restore the château's chapel. Today, the mayor and the municipal offices of Volnay occupy the former chateau.

The Vineyard

Clos de la Chapelle was part of the ensemble of parcels that previously constituted the Bousse d'Or.


This Clos would not take the name of Clos de la Chapelle until 1937 because during the setting up of appellations, the administration of INAO (National Institute of the Origin and the Quality) mentioned the vineyard under the village denomination, Clos des Ducs.

The Vineyard
Clos de la Chapelle today

My business colleagues, Philippe Remoissent and Pierre Meurgey, had their eyes on the picturesque monopole vineyard which is Clos de la Chapelle for many years - from long before we met early in the 21st century. 

I am very fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity to purchase the clos with them and to rename Domaine Louis Boillot as Domaine Clos de la Chapelle. 

Clos de la Chapelle today
Purity and authenticity

With our goal to obtain the purest wines possible, the transformation of all of the DCC properties to organic and biodynamic vineyards began immediately following our purchase of the domaine. As with all great Burgundies, our grapes are hand-harvested, and there is minimal intervention with the wine during vinification. 

Viticulture

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle vineyards are certified organic and we follow biodynamic principles.

Vinification

For the red wines, up to 25% whole cluster is used during vinification and the amount varies based on the healthiness of the stems and the characteristics of the vintage.

Purity and authenticity
Biodynamic
Soil is ploughed 3 times per year;


Spraying occurs only with contact products; no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used;


De-budding occurs to control yield, limiting to 4 shoots for a maximum yield of 35hl/ha; 


500 P - cow-horn manure for biodynamic treatment is applied in the beginning of winter and in mid-May; and


Copper treatments of 700g are applied; (6kg/year maximum allowed to retain biodynamic status).


We practice a single Guyot pruning, and are working towards lowering the vine height.