Home > Producer Profiles > Burgundy Profiles > Louis Jadot

Louis Jadot

Louis Jadot, founded in 1859, is one of the most important négociants to consider when purchasing the wines of Burgundy. The firm produces an amazing number of cuvees each year, which range from generic Bourgogne as well as Beaujolais, right up to top of the class examples from a number of Grand Cru vineyards including Bonnes Mares, Clos de Bèze and Chapelle-Chambertin, to name just three. The firm is particularly strong on the Côte de Nuits as opposed to the Côte de Beaune, following the purchase of the Clair-Daü domaine in 1986.

Jadot has been run for several decades by the Gagey family, with financial backing from the American Kopf family (owners of the Kobrand distribution business) since the 1980s. At the helm was André Gagey, who has now yielded control to his son Pierre-Henry. The support of the Kopf family has been very significant, providing the necessary funds for updating and improving equipment, whilst not interfering with the directions of cellar-master Jacques Lardière, who blends and finishes dozens of different cuvées every year. (6/11//03)

Contact details:
Address: 12 rue Eugène Spuller
Telephone: +33 (0) 3 80 22 10 57
Fax: +33 (0) 3 80 22 56 03
Internet: www.louisjadot.com

Louis Jadot - Tasting Notes

Click to locate stockists.

Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-à-Vent 2004: Quite a rich colour, but it is not overdone or opaque, merely dense and regal. Initially it is very fruit forward and simple on the nose, but this is a wine that certainly benefits from an hour or two of air contact, as it is after this period of time that the wine really begins to show why so many are warming to Castelnau's techniques in Beaujolais. The aromas intensify and morph into a deep, characterful, slightly wild array with notes of tobacco, liquorice and dark brooding fruit, with a very faint sliver of green earthiness behind. Then there are notes of coffee and nutty toffee, and an opulent honeyed, hot baked biscuits complexity which may be oak related. The palate has a lovely texture, first lean but then fleshing out a little to a rounded but firm composition, a little pepper, with dark fruits and still a lick of oak. Deliciously firm and dry, structured, outgoing but not overly flattering or easy. For Beaujolais it has a very serious disposition, and as I drank this in the cellar, whilst stacking away recent acquisitions, I thought to myself that this deep, earthy and complex wine seemed much more like a Pinot Noir from a little further north in Burgundy than a Gamay. With its soft tannins and composed nature it is totally ready to drink now, although it is sure to improve for a few years yet. Very good indeed. For label images and more see my Wine of the Week write-up. 17+/20 (August 2007)

Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé 2000: Good colour. An interesting nose, with subtle nuances of butterscotch and cream, laid alongside green apples. Quite full and ripe on the palate, with firm fresh acidity. Rather fleshy on entry, but with grip becoming more apparent on the endpalate. Nicely rounded, fleshy finish with a touch of spice. 15.5+/20 (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Meursault 2000: Good mid-golden colour. Good nose, restrained rather than exuberant, with notes of oatmeal and groundnut oil with a lemony twist. Ripe, with some flesh on the palate, and plenty of grip, Some notes of ripe stone fruit and cashew nuts. Quite tight from the midpalate onwards, and plenty of spice. With time this really fleshes out, becoming full, nutty and a touch oily, but that tight, grippy character persists. This wine is clearly in need of some bottle age. Lovely. 16+/20 (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Mâcon Blanc Villages 1999: This wine is tank fermented, but has a four month period in reused Vosges barrels and undergoes part malolactic fermentation. Nice, soft oaky notes on the nose, with some white fruit aromas. A nicely rounded palate, with soft acidity. 15/20 (December 2000)

Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet 1999: Fairly pale colour. The nose takes some time to open out, but when it does it offers aromas of lemony fruit, with hints of oatmeal, wood-oil and honeycomb. Quite fleshy on the palate, but with some grip. Good weight and a firm texture. Flavours of furniture oil and honeycomb with a texture to match. Fairly soft but appropriate acidity. Good drinking. 16+/20 (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Fleurie Poncereau 1999: A pleasant red colour. Attractive fruit on the nose. Softly acidic on the palate, with some fruit gum sweetness. 13/20 (December 2000)

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Blanc Grand Clos de Loyse 1998: An unusual wine this, sourced from a patch of Chardonnay grown on a strip of chalky soil in the Beaujolais region. It has a pale colour, with a clean citrus fruit nose. Similar fruit on the palate, with crisp, clean acidity. An unsurprising resemblance to Chablis, which says a lot to me about the effect of terroir on a wine. 15/20 (December 2000)

Louis Jadot Mâcon-Lugny Les Petites Pierres 1998: This wine has a pale, lemon-gold hue. The nose has fresh green apples, with some buttery, very slightly honeyed notes. The palate is a little flabby and lifeless. Medium bodied, with an unremarkable flavour profile. Nevertheless the finish is clean and pleasant. Overall, a forgettable wine. 13/20 (September 2000)

Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé 1998: This wine is fermented in tank and has a short aging in reused oak barrels. It has good fruit on the nose, and a creamy, oaky note. A good quality lemony fruit palate, with fresh acidity. The oak seems a touch bitter and seems to require further integration yet. 15+/20 (December 2000)

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 1998: A pale pink-red. A chewy fruit gum nose, with somewhat estery notes. More soft acidity combined with red fruits on the palate. Unimpressive. 12/20 (December 2000)

Jadot Beaune Premier Cru 1998: A good colour for this level. Soft red and black fruit - mainly the former - on the nose, with a lick of oak. Medium bodied palate, although with a slightly coarse texture and some unresolved tannin. Simple red fruit flavour. Nice marrowy texture though. Overall somewhat straightforward. 14.5/20 (June 2004)

Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1998: A disappointment which shows that not even the most careful producer can guarantee all wines are free of taint. This was most horribly corked. Not scored. (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Cent Vignes 1996: A good farmyardy, earthy nose. This wine is just on the turn, starting to develop some secondary Pinot characteristics. A combination of blackberry and raspberry fruit and some earthy, leafy notes make up the palate. More soft acidity, nicely subtle tannins. 15.5+/20 (December 2000)

Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Chouacheux 1994: Good colour, showing some maturity. Mushrooms, old furniture and baked apples on the nose. Quite a complex palate, which has flavours matching those on the nose, together with a rich weight and good, lemony acidity. Good positive finish and a little length. Possibly some oxidative degradation but that doesn't detract from what is an enjoyable wine. 16/20 (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Chouacheux 1994: In the glass this wine has moderate colour for a Pinot Noir, with thin oily legs. The nose is initially raspberry and cherry fruit, but it develops into a more complex bouquet with smoky, earthy undergrowth aromas. Soft tannins on the palate, a little harsh - not the silky texture that great Burgundy can give. Pleasant cherry fruit, the earthiness less prominent here. No surprises on the finish, but there is some length. 15+/20 (September 2000)

Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 1991: Mature colour. A good nose, very secondary in character, with aromas of autumn leaves, mushrooms and hung game. The palate has a silky texture, but with a full mouthfeel, which shows particularly well with food. Mature gamy flavours, fully integrated structure and good balance. Excellent length. With prolonged exposure to the air it becomes a little disjointed, but this is a minor criticism. It is fully mature and for drinking now. Much improved from my last tasting. 16.5/20 (November 2003)

Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 1991: In the glass this wine has a pale cherry red hue, with an unsurprisingly wide, tawny rim. The nose is fairly subdued, with surprisingly primary cherry and redcurrant aromas, together with some more complex animal fur and farmyard aromas, but these are quite subtle. The tannins are silky and very well integrated, although the body is on the light side. Pleasant redcurrant fruit with some oak and pepper. Tannins show through on the finish. Overall a pleasant wine, despite its lightweight nature. 15.5+/20 (September 2000)