Descended from a long line of winemakers, incredibly dating back to 1780, Philippe Pacalet is today considered as one of the leading figures in the natural wine movement of Burgundy. The nephew of Marcel Lapierre, a pioneer of natural wines in Beaujolais, Philippe learned the ropes alongside his uncle before training in oenology and immersing himself in non-interventionist winemaking practices, notably with mentors such as Jules Chauvet. After a decade at Prieuré Roch, where he refined his approach, in 2001 he went independent with his own négociant business in Beaune, a model that is now a pioneer in the world of natural wine.
Without owning any vines of his own, he is committed to developing long-term contracts with grape growers who cultivate their plots with respect for the soil and the rhythms of the vine. He sets the harvest dates and oversees all the technical stages himself – from the selection of the grapes to the ageing of the wines – according to his minimalist and contextualist philosophy.
Ingrained in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, his négociant business remains traditional: around 10–15 hectares of sorted grapes, hand-harvests, annual production rate of around 50,000 bottles, exported and renowned across the globe. Both his red and white wines are renowned for their pure expression of terroir, their finesse, and their noble ageing potential, whether they are Burgundy Village wines, Premiers Crus, or Grands Crus, such as those from Corton or Chambolle-Musigny. Philippe Pacalet is also supported by his partner Monica, who contributes to the selection of grapes and the definition of wine profiles.
The key to his success? A genuine desire to reveal the terroirs, coupled with meticulously conducted vinification processes, opting for non-interventionist methods and using only minimal and controlled doses of sulphur. His very natural wines are strikingly well-balanced and, for the most part, have excellent ageing potential.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru is one of the flagships of the Côte de Nuits, a terroir far better known for its red wines than for its rare whites. The Les Damodes climat lies at the northern limit of the appellation, close to Vosne-Romanée, set on east- and north-east-facing slopes. The pale, limestone-rich clay-marl soils, studded with stones, ensure excellent drainage and contribute real mineral tension. Once the grapes reach peak ripeness, they are harvested in small crates and undergo rigorous sorting. Fermentation then occurs spontaneously through a slow, natural process. The wine is subsequently aged for 12 months in oak casks before bottling without fining or filtration.
The pale yellow hue is graced with golden glints. The precise, elegant nose reveals white flowers, flintstone and ripe citrus, lifted by a discreet buttery and lightly smoky note. On the palate, a taut, lively attack opens onto a silky texture with impressive concentration, shaped by yellow fruit and fresh almond and leading into a saline, persistent finish.