Domaine de la Genillotte

Domaine de la Genillotte is a family-owned wine producer located in the village of Lignorelles, in the northwestern sector of the Chablis region. The estate was founded by Michel Sourice, a former farmer from Nantes who moved to Burgundy in 1965 to manage a large vineyard property. In 1972, Sourice began his own winemaking venture by renting twelve hectares of vines, eventually expanding the holdings into a dedicated family estate. Management of the property transitioned to his son-in-law, David Depuydt, in 1993. Under Depuydt's leadership, the domaine has modernized its technical facilities while maintaining the traditional identity established by its founder.

The estate manages approximately 16 hectares of vineyards, with vines averaging between 30 and 40 years of age. A primary 12-hectare parcel is situated in the petit bois de la Genillotte climat on a high plateau. This site is characterized by Portlandian limestone, a soil type that typically yields wines with bright fruit and accessible freshness. The remaining four hectares are distributed across various fragmented plots around Lignorelles, featuring the deeper, fossil-rich Kimmeridgian clay-limestone characteristic of the core Chablis appellation. The winemaking philosophy emphasizes the preservation of mineral tension. All wines are fermented and aged in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, avoiding any contact with oak barrels to ensure the purity of the Chardonnay fruit.

Domaine de la Genillotte is primarily recognized for its production of Petit Chablis and village-level Chablis. The domaine purposefully excludes Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards from its portfolio, focusing instead on these two categories to offer clear expressions of the Lignorelles terroir. These wines are known for their bright acidity and green apple aromatics. They typically exhibit a distinct saline finish that reflects the maritime history of the Burgundian soils. The estate is a member of the Bourgogne de Vigne en Verre, a collective of independent winegrowers that facilitates the distribution of their wines to international markets, where the producer has earned a reputation for providing consistent value and regional typicity.