Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality French regional wines. For most wine lovers   especially those who appreciate fine Chardonnay and silky Pinot Noir, Burgundy has become the benchmark. For me personally, I was first introduced to great Burgundies in the late 1970s and early 1980s when I was growing up and we used to spend family holidays in France, and in around the lovely town of Chalon-sur-Saone. Surrounded by vineyards of the iconic Côte d’Or and local appellations including Mercurey, Rully, Givry, Macon and amongst many others in southern Burgundy, from a very young age I enthusiastically tasted lovely wines served at the table of our friendly hosts. What’s more, I fondly remember establishing my wine collection when I was 18 years old, working as a chef in my parent’s restaurant in Bristol and where I would spend my hard-earned cash on fine wines. Burgundies were always my favourites, and I began my journey of appreciating wines made by the talented Juillot family. Domaine Michel Juillot wines featured consistently on my restaurant wine lists back in the day too. Their Mercurey Blanc was my late mother’s favourite wine.

The Domaine was established almost a century ago and has been run by many generations of the Juillot family, who have carefully grown their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes on their own special terroir. For me, it’s the expression of their unique terroir – a special composition of limestone and clay soils – that are the true hallmarks of great Chardonnay and Pinot. In my humble opinion, a great Mercurey can be one of the most affordable Burgundy wines around, and Domaine Michel Juillot is the finest example. Laurent Juillot is the current winemaker, and he diligently carries on the family heritage and tradition of producing top-notch Burgundies.

The elegance of the wines produced by Laurent Juillot results from the respect of the terroir and the ancestral manual gestures brought to each vinestock.

Best enjoyed served lightly chilled and in a convivial atmosphere.