Editors' Picks: Maison Louis Jadot

Burgundy's wines are fraught with consumer perils: bewildering complexity, huge variation in quality and style, expensive disappointments. Most experts offer the same advice: "pick a reliable producer and stick to it." Among the many recognizable Burgundy labels, few are as reliable, consistent and outstanding as
Maison Louis Jadot.

Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the company, founded by Louis Henry Denis Jadot in 1859. Maison Louis Jadot owns a remarkable 154 hectares in Burgundy, from the northern Côte d'Or all the way to Beaujolais, including a dream list of parcels in just about every top premier and grand cru site.

These incredible holdings distinguish Jadot from many negociants, who traditionally do not own vines, but buy finished wine from individual growers to age and sell.

Jadot's chief winemaker Jacques Lardière and his team have complete control over the production process. All vineyards are farmed without the use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides, and an additional 14 hectares around Beaune and a piece of the Château des Jacques in Beaujolais have been farmed biodynamically for the last six years.

Domaine vineyards are supplemented by purchased fruit, but even here Jadot does things a little differently. Rather than buy finished wine for aging and bottling, the company buys grapes and handles all of the winemaking at one of three dedicated wineries in the region. Thus, everything from regional wines to top grand crus gets the same care, and the consistency shows across the range.

Going a step further, Jadot became partners in its own cooperage in 1995, Cadus, to guarantee a supply of consistently high-quality barrels.

From some of the most reliable Bourgognes and Beaujolais, right up to Montrachet and Musigny, Maison Louis Jadot has an impressive range.

Each year, Maison Louis Jadot produces approximately 150 different wines. It is a testament to the winery's excellence and commitment to Burgundy that, out of those thousands of wines, there are only a few I wouldn't want to drink or have in my cellar.         

Make sure to check out our other editors' picks:

An introduction by Anthony Gismondi

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Sicily

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

Chardonnay

Cabernet Franc

Riesling

Viña Montes

Seghesio Vineyards