Céline et Laurent Tripoz Pouilly-Loché ‘1er Reserve’ 2018

Domaine Tripoz

Céline and Laurent Tripoz are an admirably non-flashy vigneron couple that’s been quietly churning out amazingly pure Burgundy for almost three decades. They don’t seem to get the international hype that their wines merit – and nor do they seek it, judging from their humble labelling – but the Tripoz’s low-to-no-sulphur Macon wines might be the best we’ve ever tasted at this price point.

Domaine Tripoz was born in 1987, in the tiny Macon village of Loché. Céline and Laurent both originate in Loché and have known each other since childhood. Although they grew up between the vineyards, their families didn’t own any, so they had to build their estate from scratch. First with the aim of merely growing grapes for negociants, but since 1990 with the ambition to make delicious wines themselves.

After the first few years the Tripoz’s made the move towards organic farming, followed by a rigorous switch to biodynamics in 2001. Today they run a 14 hectare estate of hand-worked vineyard, in and just outside of Loché. A good portion of these clay-limestone soil parcels have been planted by Céline and Laurent themselves, meaning these are vines that have never been treated with synthetics whatsoever.

In the cellar Laurent makes sure the terroir and quality of their carefully grown grapes is allowed to express itself naturally, without chaptalisation, new oak or other make-up. Vinifications (without additives) are mostly done in stainless steel tank, although the Bourgogne Rouge ages in old barrels and the Bourgogne Blanc and Pouilly-Loché are completely vinified and aged on oak.