The Heitz family has owned vineyards in Burgundy since 1857, but traditionally sold off their grapes to the most esteemed of negociants, Joseph Drouhin. With the expiration of that contract, and upon graduating with a degree in oenology in 2011, Armand Heitz re-took control of the family estate and began producing wines with the 2012 vintage.
The domaine is presently composed of four hectares, spread over five appellations in the Côte-de-Beaune. The Drouhin family had farmed the vines organically throughout their stewardship and now, with the guidance of Ludovic Pierrot (of Domaine Leflaive), Armand has brought the viticulture into full compliance with biodynamic standards. He has a strong focus on permaculture and biodiversity too. To encourage long-term balance in the vines, he has reduced tilling to an absolute minimum, relying instead on planting a wide selection of grains, legumes and herbs, depending on the needs of the plants. Chickens and sheep roam the vineyards, both to control pests and to fertilize the soil.
Yields are naturally low and the grapes are manually picked at optimal phenolic ripeness. The resulting wines - red and white - are are magnificent. Fermented in wood with intact whole clusters, they are fresh, focused and extremely balanced, with each bottling clearly expressing its site.