Mathieu Louis & Marc Pinto

Louis Mathieu – A rising star between the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune

Louis Mathieu did not grow up in the vineyards, but his passion for Burgundy began at an early age. The winemaker, originally from Clamart, took his first steps at the age of six in the tiny family plot ‘Les Nargilets’ in Aluze, north of Mercurey in the Côte Chalonnaise. On just under 20 ares of calcareous clay soil, he cultivated Pinot Noir and, at the age of 14, vinified his very first vintage .

After completing his oenology studies in Dijon, Louis Mathieu gained experience working with the very best in Burgundy – including at Domaine Leflaive and with Emmanuel Rouget in Flagey-Echézeaux. However, a formative internship also took him to Germany to work with Klaus-Peter Keller, whose influence continues to shape his style to this day . These encounters sharpened his eye for clean lines, delicate acidity and an almost vertical elegance. Back in Burgundy, he took charge of the wines produced by his uncle Philippe Pinto and developed them into an exciting project of his own.

Today, Louis Mathieu runs, together with his wife Lucile, a highly ambitious micro-négoce based between the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune. The range now includes single-vineyard wines from Fixin, Pommard and Beaune 1er Cru. For his wines, he sources grapes from organically farmed vines that are over 30 years old and focuses on low yields. In the cellar, he vinifies the red wines using whole bunches or partial maceration, with short maceration periods of 10 to 15 days. The wines are aged for around 16 months in old barrels, often previously used for Riesling or Aligoté, to preserve the fruit.

His Pinot Noirs are not heavy-handed, but rather seek elegance. They are light on the palate yet deeply structured, with precise acidity and a remarkable expression of the terroir. This style, influenced by the German school, makes him one of Burgundy’s most exciting young winemakers .