Hubert Lamy

The LAMY family has been working the vineyard in Saint-Aubin in Burgundy since 1640. Today, Domaine Hubert LAMY covers 18.5 hectares spread over the appellations Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay: four villages of the Côte de Beaune recognized for both white wines and red wines. But Domaine Hubert LAMY is first and foremost a passionate winemaker, Olivier LAMY, who works the vines, vinifies and raises wines to market them all over the world. Lamy's wines are truly sought after. His reds in recent years have gone to a different level.

Most of the development of the Domaine was during the 1990's when new vines were bought or rented (Clos de la Chatenière,  Derrière Chez Edouard, Murgers des dents de Chien, Clos du Meix, Santenay Clos des Hâtes) or planted (En Remilly).  Some parcels which were planted with Pinot Noir vines were changed to Chardonnay vines because it was considered this was a better choice for the soil type (La Princée). Olivier Lamy, having first studied winemaking and commerce, joined the Domaine in 1995.  Prior to joining his father, he did training courses in several other Domaines and tasted wines from all over the world.  With this experience he was able to bring new ideas and new methods of working in the vines and in the cellar. Today the Domaine has 18.5 hectares of vines - 80 % in Chardonnay and 20 %  in Pinot Noir.  The vines are in several appellations - Saint-Aubin, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay.  There are 20 appellations in total and the Domaine produces around 110,000 bottles per year.

Bourgogne Blanc “Les Châtaigners” A 1.10 hectare, high site on the top of the hill in Saint Aubin, planted in 1990 – always the last to be harvested. Saint Aubin Blanc “La Princée“ 3 hectares planted in 1985 and 2000. Vinified in 600 ltr demi-muids. Saint Aubin Blanc 1er Cru “Derrière chez Edouard” 1.68 hectares planted in 1990 on white marl soils. Saint Aubin Blanc 1er Cru “Derrière chez Edouard Haute Densité” From the middle ages to phylloxera in the 19th century, many vineyards were planted with up to 30,000 vines per hectare (10,000 is the usual maximum today). The competing root system gives grapes with small berries, thicker skins and less juice and wines of greater depth and concentration. Puligny-Montrachet “Les Tremblots Haute Densité” Situated at the southern end of the commune of Puligny. See above re high density. Saint Aubin 1er Cru “Derrière chez Edouard” 0.95 hectares planted in 1960.

Originally the wines were made in a little vathouse in the centre of the village of Saint-Aubin.   Due to its size this was not a very practical site for the Domaine.  In 1979 Hubert decided to build a larger, more practical vathouse.  This building was completed in 1981 and since then the work has been much easier.  In 2003 the size of the vathouse was increased from 600m2 to 1200m2.  There are now three stories to the building.  The first level contains the vats, vinification material (destemmer, conveyor belt, 2 newmatic presses, vibrating sorting table…………..) and the labeling line.  Below, on the second floor, is the bottling line and this is also where the bottles are stored and orders are prepared .  The third level, underground, contains the cellars, one for white wine and one for red wine.  Both cellars contain the barrels for ageing.

Vinfication in white:  White grapes arrive in the vathouse and are put in the press via a conveyor belt.  The grapes are pressed and the juice is transferred to a stainless steel vat for 1 night for settling.  The next day the clear juice descends, via a gravity system, into the cellar and is put in the barrels.  The barrels are 300 litres and 600 litres ("demi-muid") in capacity.

Vinification in red:  Red grapes are sorted on a vibrating sorting table.  They are then transferred into the destemmer and then into cement vats via a conveyor belt.  The alcoholic fermentation process starts during the next 3 - 10 days.  The most is then devatted and pressed, the juice is settled for one night and is then transferred into the barrels for ageing. The wine is bottled after approximately 18 months of maturing in the barrels. Then the bottles are labled and the wine is ready for sale……

In recent years Olivier has reduced the amount of new oak (and increased his use of larger barrels), increased the amount of whole bunch in the reds, experimented further with high-density plantings and become known for being one of the first to begin picking. He now has two separate cellars for the reds and whites so that they can enjoy bespoke élevage. His attention to detail in both vineyards and the cuverie is inspiring. The resulting complexity and nuances in his wines are mesmerising. The wines age incredibly well and should be sought out by all Burgundy lovers.