DOMAINE GOISOT

BIODYNAMIC BURGUNDY

  “The [wines of the] hugely talented Jean-Hughes Goisot … deliver flat out amazing quality, particularly given the modest appellations with which he works. Despite the fact that I have said it before, it’s worth repeating that I highly recommend these wines”. Allen Meadows, Burghound Issue #32

“Here is surely one of the greatest domaines of the Yonne (the departement that includes Chablis), who sadly does not have the chance to exploit the vines of Chablis yet realize exceptional results in the tiny commune of St Bris that, like it’s celebrated neighbor (Chablis) possesses a sub soil of Kimmeridgien chalk.”  Michel Bettane, Le Grand Guide des Vins de France 2009

Occasionally - in truth very occasionally - a wine importer stumbles across a brilliant producer working in one of the so called “lessor appellations”, producing wines far superior to many, more famous names in more renown terroirs. Domaine Goisot is such a producer. In a very short space of time these wines have become an integral part of our portfolio.

After Goisot was described to us by a very famous Côte d’Or winemaker a number of years ago as “one of the super stars of French winemaking” we thought we had better pay them a visit. After all, here was a producer whose vineyards are all located in little known Saint-Bris, Côte d’Auxerre and Irancy yet who is rated by Revue du Vin de France’s Classement des Meilleurs Vins de France (France’s leading wine guide) as one of the top few producers in the Yonne/Chablis area. In fact, Goisot is given the same rating as Vincent Dauvissat, one of the truly great names of Chablis. In the Yonne section of this guide, only two producers (both from Chablis) rate higher than Goisot, and every other Chablis producer gets a lower rating! No wonder Goisot have so little wine to offer export markets - the French are buying it all!
Like all of France’s greatest winegrowers, father and son Jean-Hughes and Guilhem Goisot work tirelessly in their vineyards to produce the highest standards of grapes possible. The vineyards are planted to 10,000 vines per acre as opposed to the regional average of roughly half this density. The viticulture is certified biodynamic and yields are kept very low. They use only homeopathic, natural treatments in the vineyard and harvests are done exclusively by hand, with several passes through the vineyard. In the winery the philosophy is classic ‘minimalist’ with natural yeasts, a long, slow elevage, minimal fining and/or filtration only if required. Very few, if any, Chablis producers can match these exacting viticulture standards. 
The wines of Domaine Goisot are for those open minded drinkers who don’t drink vineyard names but rather are more concerned with the quality and integrity they find in the glass – in this case they will find a great deal of both. These are intense, textural yet racy, mineral wines with a rich, stony, earthy complexity that speak loudly of the chalky soils that typify the greater Chablis area. Think of everything you would want from a great Chablis producer (i.e, more richness, complexity and breed than you typically find) and you will be on the right track.

Regional notes - St Bris
This appellation only received official AOC status in 2003 and is located around the village Saint-Bris-le-Vineux, only a few kilometres southwest of the Chablis region. It was once part of Chablis and is unique, for a region within Burgundy, in that the whites are made from Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon Gris/Fié Gris rather than Chardonnay. Goisot was the producer to reintroduce this variety to the region, as they feel it produces a far higher quality wine to Sauvignon Blanc. It is certainly very different. If you are anti Sauvignon, do yourself a favour and forget the variety: it is the terroir (Burgundian through and through) that speaks the loudest in the wines here. The soil is even richer in Kimmeridgian limestone than Chablis proper with a lot more chalk as well. In the hands of a great vigneron like Goisot, the resulting wines are complex, creamy, mineral rich wines that put most Chablis to shame. Don’t be scared to encourage your customers to give them a few years in the cellar.

Regional notes - Côtes d'Auxerre
From just outside the AOC of Chablis and south of the city of Auxerre. Here we return to Chardonnay for the whites and Pinot Noir for the reds. Again, with the whites from Goisot, it is easy to close your eyes and imagine you are drinking the finest Chablis, however here there is perhaps more flesh and more complexity (especially in riper years like 2006). Goisot has a number of parcels including the vineyards; Peillotte, Belle Croix, Chaussan, Biaumont, Gondonne, and Gueules de Loup, the last three of which are bottled separately in the better years. The soils here are again typically very rich in limestone and chalk (down to some 80 meters in depth). The Goisot reds can be superb and have the brightness and general personality that reminds of the better Côte Chalonnaise reds although with perhaps a tad more structure.

Goisot

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Aligote 2010

100% Aligote. Biodynamically farmed. This wine has been one of our favourite value Burgundies for the last few years. Goisot's old vines - between 50 and 80 years - are planted on the high, cool... read more

Product Code: 9401-750

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Region:

Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Aligote 2009

This wine has been one our favourite value Burgundies for the last few years. The 2009 has a lovely racy, pulpy, aromatic personality with lime, smoke, salt aromas and flavours. The only thing this... read more

Product Code: 8612-750

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre Blanc 2010

100% Chardonnay. A cracking value as always, the '10 is an intense, grapefruit and apple noted wine with a racy structure, good texture and a deliciously refreshing close. 90% tank reared. "An... read more

Product Code: 9402-750

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre Pinot Noir Rouge 2010

99% Pinot Noir, 1% César. "A ripe, fresh and very pinot nose that also reflects notes of red cherry and earth where the latter element can also be found on the delicious, rich and admirably pure... read more

Product Code: 9410-750

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Region:

Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Aligote 2008

"A very subtle hint of as yet unintegrated SO2 detracts only mildly from the otherwise spicy, cool and restrained aromas that precede textured and precise flavors that exude a delicate minerality... read more

Product Code: 8220-750

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Region:

Saint Bris

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Saint-Bris Exogyra Virgula Blanc 2010

100% Sauvignon Blanc. St Bris is the only appellation for Sauvignon Blanc or Sauvignon Gris in Burgundy and this is certainly the benchmark producer. In the chalky soils of the Chablis/Yonne area,... read more

Product Code: 9407-750

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Saint Bris

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Saint-Bris Moury Blanc 2010

100% Sauvignon Blanc. From 1.3 ha on Barrois limestone (a Portlandian era limestone with large amounts of pebbles and silty clays). Much more opulent and textural than the Exogyra Virgula, yet with... read more

Product Code: 9408-750

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre Blanc 2009

100% Chardonnay. Another truly brilliant value. If this was a 1er cru Chablis you would be delighted. In fact it will give more pleasure as many Grand Cru Chablis! It's very Chablis in personality... read more

Product Code: 8613-750

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre Corps de Garde Blanc 2009

100% Chardonnay. From 2.5ha spread across the lieux-dits of Belle Croix. Biaumont, Gondonne, Chaussan and Gueules de Loup. Vine age averages 30 years. Corps de Garde is simply an older vine, more... read more

Product Code: 9403-750

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Bourgogne

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Goisot

J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre Corps de Garde Rouge 2009

100% Pinot Noir. This is a wonderfully bright, juicy, red cherry and spice noted red from 30-70 year old vines. It's as refreshing as it is plump, with the ripe, '09 texture perfectly balanced by... read more

Product Code: 9411-750

Result pages: 12