Pavelot is one of the best names in Savigny-lès-Beaune, producing pure, structured and complex expressions of the village.
The family has a long history of farming vines, back to the French Revolution, but it was Jean-Marc’s father who started bottling wine under the family name. The reputation was built by Jean-Marc, with his son Hugues joining in 1999, who now heads up the domaine.
They have 13 hectares in total, with a high proportion of old vines – most between 35 and 80 years in age. Most of the production is red (90%), but they make a white Savigny-lès-Beaune and Corton Grand Cru. For the reds, they have a fine selection of Premiers Crus. La Dominode is their flagship cuvée, where they have over two hectares and almost half the vines have 80 vintages under their belt. Farming is lutte raisonée, and winemaking fairly simple. They ferment in a combination of stainless steel, cement and oak, with a varying proportion of whole-bunch according to the cuvée and vintage. There’s no new oak on the village wines, with 15 to 25% on the Premiers Crus and above.
