The Château de Chambolle-Musigny, the heart of this domaine, has been in the Mugnier family for more than 150 years. Founded in 1863 by Frédéric Mugnier, a liquor maker in Dijon, the estate included nearly 20 hectares of vineyards spread over Chambolle-Musingy and Nuits-Saint-Georges. For financial reasons, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Frédéric’s great-grandson, chose to sell the liquor business and lease out his vineyards to reputable négociants
Starting in 1978, the contracts on the vineyards expired, returning the full responsibility to Frédéric Mugnier, son of Jacques-Frédéric. The most recent addition was the return of Clos de la Maréchale in 2004, dramatically increasing the domaine’s size. Domaine JF Mugnier comprises only a handful of Village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru vineyards, but they are some of the most sought-after crus in the wine world.
The approach to both viticulture and winemaking is aimed at preserving the purest expression of terroir in the wines, with minimal interference from technological practices. It is a pragmatic approach to viticulture, favoring hand work and preventive protection methods. The vineyards have been farmed with no herbicides since 1991 and no pesticides since 1997, but they do allow for two treatments a year against mildew, which are not organic.
