Marthe Henry Boillot - 'Saint Martin' - Pinot Noir - Burgundy, FR - 2022

Notes from the Winery/Importer

From the Saint Martin vineyard, this Pinot Noir delivers a generous and approachable take on Burgundy. Aromas of ripe cherry, fresh raspberry, and a whisper of violet rise from the glass. The palate is soft at the start, carried by silky tannins and lively fruit. A gentle spice lifts the finish, leaving a fresh, vibrant impression. Easy to enjoy and food-friendly, it pairs beautifully with rustic dishes like terrine or roast poultry. Region: Burgundy Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Red Farming: Organic Harvest: Hand-harvested Winemaking: No additives, no chemical yeast, 18 months of barrel ageing Fining: None Filtration: None Added S02: Minimal, only before bottling

Notes on the Producer

Marthe Henry Boillot, the granddaughter of Pierre Boillot, a prominent figure in Meursault, made a significant career shift from journalism to winemaking. After working with Pierre-Henri Rougeot at Domaine Rougeot, she decided to establish her negoce in 2017. Marthe's winemaking philosophy centres around simplicity and authenticity. Her commitment to a minimal intervention method reflects her deep respect for the winemaking tradition. Marthe sources grapes from organic vineyards and collaborators who share her dedication to sustainable viticulture. To preserve their natural essence and character, the wines are fermented with natural yeast, 100% whole bunch, unfined, unfiltered, and only receive a minimal amount of sulfites at the bottling stage. Emphasizing quality and meticulous craftsmanship, Marthe's wines undergo a lengthy ageing process in oak barrels, typically lasting at least 18 months, longer than the normal 12 months that many others do, as her cellar has an optimal condition where it could let the wines rest peacefully without temperature interference. Marthe produces some of the most energetic yet charming wines, without lacking precision and authenticity. In a significant development in 2023, Marthe regained access to her family's vineyards, including prized plots such as Meursault Charmes and Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu.  To avoid confusion with other Domaines, since vintage 2020, the wines have been labelled as Marthe Henry instead of Marthe Henry Boillot.

Grapes & Style

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is one of the old noble red grapes of Burgundy, and still the variety most associated with the Côte d’Or’s ability to translate small differences in site into meaningfully different wines. It’s been known under older names like Morillon, Noirien, and Auvernat, and its history reaches back to medieval northern France. Over time, the Pinot family produced or revealed a whole set of mutations — Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Teinturier, Pinot Noir Précoce — but Pinot Noir remains the central red expression.

In the vineyard, it’s famously sensitive. It buds early, so spring frost can be a real issue, and it ripens early enough that warm climates can push it too fast, leaving thin-skinned berries prone to shrivel and sunburn. It prefers temperate climates, calcareous-clay soils, and careful yield control. It’s also susceptible to mildew, botrytis, virus pressure, and plenty of other vineyard headaches, which is part of why great Pinot has such a fragile, hard-won quality.

In the glass, Pinot Noir is rarely about sheer power. At its best, it’s relatively pale, aromatic, and finely structured, with red-fruit notes like cherry and raspberry when young, often moving toward more savory, autumnal, earthy, mushroomy, or truffle-like tones with age. The better examples are compelling because they carry delicacy without feeling thin — fruit, perfume, texture, and place all held in a lighter frame.