Explaining Louis Jadot Labels

What is the difference between Louis Jadot wines labelled Domaine de Heritiérs Louis Jadot, Jadot Domaine Gagey or Domaine Jadot? Inspired by a customer asking me about the meaning of the different Louis Jadot labels (it is not the first time I have been asked), I thought I would try and explain. First of all, a little bit of history.

A Brief History of Maison Louis Jadot

Maison Louis Jadot is a highly respected and prominent wine producer in the Burgundy region of France. The Maison was founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot. However, the Jadot family’s involvement in Burgundy winemaking predates this, with the purchase of their Clos des Ursules vineyard in Beaune in 1826, a vineyard which is held in very high esteem today.

Thomas Seiter now leads Louis Jadot, taking over from Pierre-Henry Gagey, who served as its head for 31 years. This continues a lineage of strong leadership, which began in 1962 when André Gagey was appointed by Madame Jadot to manage the company after the untimely passing of her son, Louis Auguste Jadot. In 1985, the owners of Kobrand Corporation (Jadot’s US sole importer since 1945) bought the company.

Over time the company has acquired plots of vines in some of the most prestigious vineyards in the region. Louis Jadot owns or directly controls 141 ha in the Côte d’Or, including over 90 individual vineyard sites, 84ha in the Beaujolais Crus and 18ha in the Mâconnais primarily in Pouilly Fuissé.

What Do The Different Louis Jadot Wine Labels Mean?

Most wine lovers will recognise the classic designs of the Louis Jadot wine labels, but the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed some subtle differences in the naming conventions.

Domaine de Heritiérs Louis Jadot, Domaine Gagey and Domaine Louis Jadot are all part of Maison Louis Jadot but represent different vineyard holdings.

Domaine de Heritiérs Louis Jadot

Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot refers to the original Jadot family estate, established in 1826, including prestigious plots like the aforementioned Beaune Clos des Ursules. These are still owned by the heirs of the Jadot Family.

Domaine Gagey

In contrast, Domaine Gagey, named after former manager André Gagey, whose family still runs Jadot, consists of vineyards acquired later, spread across Burgundy. While both produce high-quality wines reflecting Jadot’s balanced, terroir-driven style, the distinction lies in the historical ownership and specific vineyard sources.

Domaine Louis Jadot

You will also see many wines that simply say Domaine Louis Jadot. This is used for wines made from vineyards that have been acquired since 1859, owned by the Maison Louis Jadot company.

Duc de Magenta

Lastly, another term you might find on the Jadot labels is “Domaine Duc de Magenta”, a family-owned estate with whom Jadot has a number of long term contracts. This can be found on the Louis Jadot Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Monopole Clos de la Chapelle, label, for example.

The wines are all produced under the same winemaking philosophy and expertise of the Jadot team.

Other Wineries Owned by Louis Jadot

Louis Jadot’s portfolio extends far beyond their vineyards in Burgundy. This includes a diverse range of estates across various regions. Notably, the company owns the following:

Domaine Ferret in Pouilly-Fuissé, Mâconnais

Domaine Prieur-Brunet in Santenay and Meursault

Château des Jacques in Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais

Résonance in Oregon, U.S.A.

As well as these various wine estates, Jadot entered into a partnership with Tonnellerie Vicard in 1996 to create Cadus Cooperage. Owning their cooperage, located in Ladoix-Serrigny, Burgundy, allows Jadot much more control over the source of oak, quality control and production of barrels, levels and style of toast etc.