Louis Jadot is one of the top wineries in Burgundy, in terms of both quantity and quality as they own over 132ha vineyards. Louis Jadot was founded in 1826, it is not only a Domaine but also a Negociant. Its negociant business started in 1859. Originally Louis Jadot was a family business. Andre Gagey took over the operation in 1954, after the last family member Louis Auguste Jadot passes away. In 1985, the company was purchased by US wine importer Kobrand. But it is run by the Gagey family including Andre’s son Pierre-Henry Gagey and grandson Thibault Gagey.
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Louis Jadot keeps developing including building their own barrel factory and expanding the winery with modernization. Moreover, they purchased a few wineries including Domaine Ferret in Maconnais, Chateau des Jacques in Moulin-a-Vent and Chateau de Bellevue in Morgon. Louis Jadot produces both Domaine wines (own vineyard) and Maison wines (purchase grapes). People always have a perception that Domaine wines are always better. Indeed, this is not the case for Louis Jadot. as there is no contract between the winery and the grape grower. The purchase of grapes is purely based on quality. Louis Jadot always pays a premium to the grape growers, which is usually equivalent to a selling price of a bottle of wine.
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The philosophy of the chief wine maker Jacques Lardière is to minimize human intervention. For the reds, there will be no pre-maceration, no control on the upper limit of the fermentation temperature, no pumping over (only punching down). For the white, MLF is partially blocked to retain acidity and fineness.
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As a result, Louis Jadot always produces high quality wine that is sought-after on the international stage or at auction.
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About the author: Hei Cheng, WSET Diploma, free-lance wine column writer. 10 years wine industry working experience. Greater China brand ambassador. Hosted over 200 masterclasses.
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