THE Estate

In 1851, François GUILLAUME, the regional columnist, wrote about the history of the Côte d'Or. In his book, he noted that as early as 1570 the GILLE family was present in Comblanchien. To this day, it is the oldest family in the village.

The estate as it exists today was built by Vivant GILLE (1877 - 1938).

The Vineyards owned by the GILLE family expanded thanks to the work of Pierre GILLE (born in 1947) and his wife Anne-Marie. They bought the appellations Vosne-Romanée, Pommard, Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru, and Corton Grand Cru.

At present, family business is in the hands of Matthieu GILLE, who apart from being a hereditary winemaker is a true perfectionist by nature. He strives to create high-quality wine able to satisfy the most sophisticated oenophiles.

Our Corton 2018 proves to be listed by Decanter among the best wines of 2022: Top Burgundy wines: 18 to try from Decanter World Wine Awards - Decanter

Transmission of heritage is at the heart of our drive. It is not a career-based, or work-oriented life. It is the passion of passing a legacy that has taken centuries to construct. To do this we must teach the next generation a mixture of tradition and adaptation to change.

In the vineyard and cellar we are guided by tradition and inspired by innovation. Our family started exploring the world long before travel was made easy. We believe that adventure enriches our craft, which in turn benefits you.

When we go looking for a bottle in the cellar, it's for the pleasure of sharing the magic of an appellation, a vintage. Wine is the reflection of our soul as a winegrower. The emotions revealed by the complexity of wine have often inspired artists and philosophers throughout time.

“Wine is bottled poetry.” - Robert L. Stevenson

Burgundy is the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The unique system of climatic classification allows these varieties to develop one of a kind notes and expressions.

These grape varieties, created by the founders of Burgundy, clearly call for reflective and respectful agriculture. Thus, over the centuries we have cultivated our vines with deference. We do not use hazardous materials. We do not use any products in excess, including copper and sulfur.
 It is by varying our techniques and adapting to the seasons, that we remain in touch with the vines and wine .

On the estate, 70% of the vines are old (between 45 and 90 years). It is with much fortune we get to produce from vines with so much history, because it is reflected in the complexity of the wines which are both fruity and elegant. All good things must come with a price. The price we pay for such quality is a lower yield.

Finally, the goal is to preserve the myriad of yeasts present on the skin of the berries: they guarantee the expression of the different climates.

The most important and tricky decision for us is the harvest date. This is the start of a great adventure gathering 40 people.
Each year the yeasts, the phenolic balance of the grapes are different. This is the magic of Pinot Noir. That is to reveal the full potential of the grape by a natural fermentation. At this time of year the doubt and the stress are abundant, the sleep is rare.

Then in a quieter way and always without input, the wines receive our full attention during their aging in oak barrels.

 It is then imperative to choose the assortment of barrels for each appellation carefully. The origin of the woods, the toast, but also the style of the cooperage, are all parameters to be taken into consideration.

Finally, the bottling is sometimes preceded by a clarification or a filtration. Measurement is required. Indeed, at this stage the wine can embellish a superb dress... as it can see its aromas completely extinguish. You will understand that at this stage, after a year of cultivation, and eighteen months of cellar, we must not be mistaken.