“Brothers Claude and Hervé have been in charge for a decade or so, during which they have established this domaine as arguably the best in the village—against fierce competition.” — Clive Coates MW
“Top 10 Best Value Producers in Burgundy” — Clive Coates MW, Wine Report
Nine generations of Muzards precede Claude and Hervé, who today control Domaine Lucien Muzard across 16 ha of vineyards in Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet and Pommard. The family can trace its roots back to 1645, but it was not until the two sons, Claude and Herve took over the domaine from Lucien in 1995 that it began bottling at the estate rather than selling to négociants. Today 85% of the production is red wine but the white wines are gaining in stature with several key premier cru parcels in Santenay being replanted with Chardonnay. Santenay borders Chassagne Montrachet to the north adjoining notable premier cru’s such as Morgeots, Les Embazees and Les Baudines. Clearly there is potential for white wines with much limestone apparent in a complex series of fractured geological faults where the Cote dÓr ends and turns the corner towards Maranges signalling the end of the Cote dÓr slope. Santenay contains a great variety of soil differences and vineyard expositions, the potential of which deserves discovery.
Reducing vine yields and adoption of some modern wine-making techniques has resulted in spotlessly pure, great value Burgundy in both colours. In 2005 they began managing the vineyard organically and today follow a lutte raisonée, or sustainable farming path drawing on organic and bio-dynamic principals employed in the last 2 decades.
