Clos des Vignes du Maynes

Mâcon-Cruzille, Bourgogne, France

Julien Guillot

Julien Guillot’s Clos des Vignes du Maynes is a place where history and nature are deeply entwined—its gnarled old vines lie within an ancient stone-walled clos, surrounded by forest and timeworn structures. Originally farmed by Cluny monks as early as 910, the vineyard has never seen chemicals. Since 1952, it’s been in the hands of the Guillot family, who have upheld a steadfast commitment to organic farming. Pierre and Jeanne Guillot led the way, followed by their son Alain, a pioneer in establishing France’s official organic standards. Julien took the reins in 2001, introducing biodynamics and continuing his family’s legacy of thoughtful, earth-first viticulture. Julien’s wines are pure expressions of terroir, shaped by soil. He works with native yeasts, no additives or sulphur, and handles everything with careful precision. Reds are made using a distinctive semi-carbonic maceration passed down through three generations, then aged in wood and bottled unfined and unsulfured. Whites rest in large vats to preserve freshness. Everything is racked and bottled in harmony with the lunar cycle.