Artémis Domaines, the vineyard division of the wealthy French industrialist François Pinault, has recently unveiled its new domaine, Domaine des Cabottes, which will feature some of the most celebrated vineyards in the Côte d’Or. This announcement comes on the heels of Artémis’ acquisition of the historic Burgundy négociant house, Bouchard Père et Fils, in 2022.
Domaine des Cabottes will benefit from an impressive collection of grand cru vineyards, including those in Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, and Corton. Additionally, selected premier cru lots from Bouchard will be included, such as the iconic Beaune Grèves premier cru, Volnay Caillerets, and various parcels from Meursault.
With a total of 35 hectares of vineyards being transferred to Domaine des Cabottes, Bouchard will maintain around 50 hectares in its existing holdings. Bouchard Père et Fils has a long heritage, established in 1731, and has been run by the Bouchard family for nine generations. The winery saw significant investments following its sale in 1995 to Joseph Henriot, who built a new winery and assembled a talented team, including current technical director Frédéric Weber.
Following Henriot’s unexpected passing in 2015, the winery was managed by his nephew until the Henriot family transferred control to Pinault in exchange for a minority stake in Artémis Domaines. Under Frédéric Engerer’s leadership, Artémis swiftly began restructuring its approach, halting grape purchases to focus on its own vineyards and executing changes at Bouchard, including weaving top Côte de Nuits vineyards into Domaine d’Eugénie.
Planning for Domaine des Cabottes has been underway, with construction of a new winery already starting. Engerer envisions having it ready for the harvest in 2027, although wines from the new vineyards will bear the Domaine des Cabottes name starting with the 2023 vintage.
In continuing the strategy introduced by Henriot, all Artémis vineyards will be fully certified organic, and Domaine des Cabottes will follow biodynamic practices beginning with the 2026 vintage. This re-organization aims to enhance the quality of the wines, allowing for longer maturation periods for whites and a more personalized approach to vineyard management.
The future holds exciting possibilities for the wines of Domaine des Cabottes, marking a pivotal moment in Burgundy’s storied viticulture.