Domaine Michel Caillot – 2018 Bourgogne Les Herbeux

Domaine Michel Caillot – 2018 Bourgogne Les Herbeux.

A crips, mineral-driven white Burgundy that combines buttery tones and aroma’s driven by soil.

In a region defined by nuance and terroir, Bourgogne Les Herbeux 2018 from Domaine Michel Caillot offers a compelling introduction to white Burgundy’s wilder side. This is a wine of both precision and quiet power combined with citrus zest, crushed flint, and ripe orchard fruit, yet underpinned by hints of tension that keeps the palate alert. It is unmistakably Burgundian, yet speaks with a clarity and intensity that sets it apart.

About the Winery

Michel Caillot took over the family domaine in Meursault in the early 1980s, building a quiet reputation for authenticity and minimalism long before they became buzzwords. With holdings in Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Volnay, and Pommard, his 13-hectare estate bridges some of the Côte de Beaune’s most coveted terroirs. The winemaking is traditional and low-intervention, with little new oak and a restrained use of sulphites. Caillot’s focus is on purity, on translating site and season into the glass with as few fingerprints as possible.

It is this philosophy that lends wines like Les Herbeux their honest complexity: not polished into perfection, but carefully guided to reveal their character.


About the Vineyard

Though labeled as Bourgogne Blanc, Les Herbeux hails from vineyards bordering Meursault, planted with vines ranging from 25 to 80 years old. These plots sit on clay-limestone soils with good drainage and exposure, factors that lend structure and aromatic lift to the wine.

2018 was a warm vintage in Burgundy, marked by early flowering and generous yields. But thanks to thoughtful picking and gentle handling in the cellar, Caillot preserved freshness and terroir expression. The wine saw a light touch of oak, just enough to frame without distracting from the fruit.

About the Wine

In the glass, Les Herbeux 2018 reveals a deep golden hue, reflecting the richness of the vintage. The nose opens with lifted aromas of ripe apple, lemon zest, and crushed stone, accented by subtle notes of white flowers, roasted almond, and a faint wisp of white pepper. There’s a clean, flinty tension throughout, hinting at its Meursault-adjacent roots, along with a delicate layer of flowers and spice.

On the palate, the wine is powerful yet precise: dry, linear, and focused. Ripe peach and golden apple are framed by zesty acidity and a fine mineral base. There’s a lightly sour brightness that drives a long, aromatic finish, where citrus peel and wet stone come together with subtle creaminess.

The balance here is key: structured and persistent, but never heavy. This is not a flashy wine, nor does it aim to be, it’s contemplative and restrained, a white Burgundy built on energy rather than opulence.

Conclusion

The 2018 Bourgogne Les Herbeux is a fine example of how careful vineyard work and minimal intervention can yield a wine that overdelivers for its appellation. With its layered citrus, spice, and minerality, it’s a wine that rewards both immediate drinking and a few years of cellaring.

We award this wine an 88-point DWA score, a finely etched, terroir-driven Burgundy with quiet charm and impressive clarity.

This review is written by our own Nadine Massen. Domaine Michel Caillot and their wines are available through our partner Klosse Wines, and can be bought in their online shop.

Taste date:       July 2025

Website:         N/A