Driving into the towering hills of Saint-Romain, passing the well-known village of Auxey-Duresses, one cannot help but appreciate this microclimate as the weather becomes increasingly volatile in Burgundy. It’s easy to understand why this overlooked appellation is an exciting place to be a winemaker right now. Located at the foot of the highest cliff in the Côte de Beaune, Romain Barolet of Barolet-Pernot is pushing the limits of the Saint-Romain appellation, with a total of 14 hectares spanning Puligny-Montrachet through Beaune. The cellar surrounded by an amphitheater of soaring marl and limestone cliffs is a beautiful place to be making wine, Romain shares with a big smile on his face.

As the fourth generation of his family, Romain took over as winemaker in 2015. He spent a lot more of his time in the family vineyards during COVID, eventually pushing the family to bring back production 100% in house. Beyond his light-handed touch in the cellar, and his focus on creating honest expressions of these mineral-rich wines of Saint-Romain, Romain has decided to push the winemaking through longer élevage of these age-worthy appellations.

Regardless of the generations passed since Romain’s great-grandparents started Barolet-Pernot, a new chapter is starting for the domaine. Romaine is leading them into the future with clear verve and ability. Working with some of the great vineyards including Saint-Romain Sous Le Château, Auxey Duresses, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Pucelles, and Batard-Montrachet, the future is bright for Romain and Barolet-Pernot.