Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot's vision for the 2024 vintage

A Challenge Mastered, a Great Success

The 2024 vintage from the Fernand and Laurent Pillot estate will be remembered as a year that was as demanding as it was formative. Despite being marked by complex weather conditions, this vintage now stands out as one of the estate’s most accomplished, both for the quality of the harvested grapes and the precision of the wines produced. Small in volume but grand in expression, 2024 also marks a major milestone with the estate’s first organic certification.

A wine-growing year under high pressure

The year 2024 began early but quickly turned out to be cool, damp, and very rainy. Repeated episodes of rain—nearly one day in three on average—made vineyard work particularly difficult. Tractor access became complicated, sometimes impossible, forcing the team to use tracked vehicles or work on foot. The fight against downy mildew, powdery mildew, and rot required constant vigilance and unwavering commitment.

Thanks to experience gained in previous vintages and rigorous plot-by-plot management, the estate minimizes losses, despite very low yields: approximately 30% loss for white wines and up to 50% for red wines. In return, the health of the grapes is deemed excellent.

Precise work in the vineyards

To maintain the vines’ health and promote ripening in this cool vintage, a number of adjustments were implemented: early leaf removal, limited soil cultivation to prevent moisture from rising, and grass cover on certain plots for the first time. Several red wine plots were also trellised to optimize ripening, notably the entire Pommard Rugiens vineyard—a first for the estate.

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A Late but High-Quality Harvest

The 2024 harvest began on September 11, notably with the reds leading the way before the whites. As in previous vintages, the harvest was carried out exclusively by hand, using small crates, to preserve the grapes’ freshness and integrity until they reached the cellar.

Vinification: Finesse and Mastery

Despite the complexity of the year, vinification proceeds smoothly. For the red wines, Adrien Pillot opts for a gentler extraction, prioritizing elegance, freshness, and the purity of the fruit. All the reds are pressed in a vertical press, in keeping with traditional practices, then aged for 12 to 16 months to preserve aromatic vibrancy and depth.

As for the whites, ripeness is slow to come, but the juices show good concentration. The musts are transferred to barrels with more body and stirred on the lees until the end of the year, allowing for a remarkable balance between tension, freshness, and the richness provided by the lees.

The Style of the 2024 Vintage

In terms of character, the 2024 vintage from the Fernand and Laurent Pillot estate is similar to the 2017 vintage, yet offers greater freshness and more intense aromas. The wines display great precision, delicate balance, and excellent drinkability, while retaining real aging potential for certain appellations. The reds offer an elegant, refined, and fruity profile, with silky tannins and beautiful precision. The whites are taut and precise, with well-controlled structure and expressive minerality.

A rare and promising vintage

Certified organic and produced in very limited quantities, the 2024 vintage is already shaping up to be a highly sought-after cuvée. It perfectly embodies the estate’s philosophy: demanding work, respectful of living organisms, dedicated to producing authentic wines deeply rooted in their terroirs. A vintage that Burgundy wine enthusiasts absolutely must discover.