
The Domaine Gagnerot was established in 1802. In 1864 Marie, Jean-Baptiste’s unique daughter, marries François Capitain, wine trader, native of Champlitte. Together, Jean-Baptiste and François establish the Domaine Capitain-Gagnerot.
After the phylloxera crisis wich ravaged the Burgundian vineyard from the 1870s the the 1880s, Marie then widowed, decides to keep the domaine and to replant it vines. The succession is since made from father to son.
After the Second World War, Roger Capitain inherits 3 hectares of vineyards and a wine trade. His two sons, Patrice and Michel, take over the domaine upon his retirement.
Today, the domaine comprise 16 hectares of vineyards in full ownership, and it is Pierre-François and Delphine, Patrice’s children, who now oversee its destiny, supported by their spouses.
Terroir
The particularity of Burgundy is to produce on diversified terroirs wines elaborated with a single grape variety, which emphasize the specificity of every appellation : Pinot Noir for red wines, Chardonnay for white wines.
Our terroir refers to the specific characteristics of grounds, subsoil, weather conditions and vines, but it is also the result of man’s work and knowhow, refined over a long history.
Located at the junction of Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, the highly defined vineyard of Ladoix is ideally situated on the Coteau de Corton, the only hillside in Burgundy to produce both white Grand Crus and red Grand Crus.
This famed hillside has a geologic profile which comprises two types of soils:
• Marl limestone convenient for great white wines;
• Clay and limestone, yielding red wines of great finesse.
Winemaking
Our wines are produced in accordance with reasoned culture principles, applying at the same time the principles of integrated farming and as often as the weather conditions allow it, those of biodynamic farming. We work in harmony with the vineyard and its ecosystem, by favoring natural treatment products and by limiting our interventions to the minimum, in order to obtain a healthy harvest.
Vineyards are regularly earthed up and ploughed to ensure that the vines draw in depth the typicality and the expression of their terroir. Plowing also avoids rapid erosion of the soil, therefore ensuring optimal growing conditions for the vines.
A rigorous selection of plants, a thorough pruning and an early thinning out of leaves allow the control of quality and yield. To always obtain the best of each plot, there only remains to select the most favorable harvest date for an optimal maturity and quality. We believe that great wines are born in the vineyard.
Completely hand-harvested, grapes are sorted out and destemmed before being placed in tanks to be vinified.
The fermentation of Pinot Noir is naturally made, in open tank, without yeast addition, during 12 to 15 days following the harvest, in a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The wine is punched-down twice a day at the beginning of wine-making.
Wines are exclusively matured in oak barrels during 12 to 18 months. After the malolactic fermentation and a light filtration, they are bottled.
After racking of the must, our Chardonnay ends its alcoholic fermentation in barrels at a temperature between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius to ensure that it retains all its aromatic freshness.
After a minimum 10 month maturing in cask, wines are racked, filtered and bottled.
To protect the character of our wine and its terroir, we do not use more than 10% of new wood.
We believe that wood is solely a support in making good wine, and a slight touch of it is enough to achieve that goal.
Our viticulture and wine-making reflect our will to make genuinely fresh wines, which are the expression of our rich terroir, and of the elegance of the great grape varieties of Burgundy.
The fermentation of Pinot Noir is naturally made, in open tank, without yeast addition, during 12 to 15 days following the harvest, in a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The wine is punched-down twice a day at the beginning of wine-making.
Wines are exclusively matured in oak barrels during 12 to 18 months. After the malolactic fermentation and a light filtration, they are bottled.
After racking of the must, our Chardonnay ends its alcoholic fermentation in barrels at a temperature between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius to ensure that it retains all its aromatic freshness.
After a minimum 10 month maturing in cask, wines are racked, filtered and bottled.
To protect the character of our wine and its terroir, we do not use more than 10% of new wood.
We believe that wood is solely a support in making good wine, and a slight touch of it is enough to achieve that goal.
Our viticulture and wine-making reflect our will to make genuinely fresh wines, which are the expression of our rich terroir, and of the elegance of the great grape varieties of Burgundy.
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The Grade Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard is made from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
“This wine expresses a focused balancing act of dark, rich black fruit, and a fine tannin structure, illuminated through the core with a laser-like acidity. The wine displays a deep purple-red hue with a cranberry halo. Aromas of cassis, cinnamon, citrus oil, roasted meat, and lilac swell from the glass.
“The palate is marked by a wave of jet-black brambly fruit up front, followed by an exotic spice mid-palate and a long, complex finish that lasts and lasts expressing notes of flowering jasmine, and oolong tea. The silky tannins hold everything together and will certainly allow this wine to evolve in the cellar for at least 7-10 years.” - Thomas River Brown
Review:
Coming from the Winfield Vineyard in Calistoga, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is another brilliant wine from the hands of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. This deep purple-colored effort boasts tons of blueberry and jammy blackberry fruits as well a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant style on the palate. It has the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of the vintage, ripe, sweet tannins, and no hard edges, and is already hard to resist.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
When we set out to produce Pinot Noir at Donelan Family Wines, we wanted to make a wine that embraces our favorite aspects of great Pinot from Sonoma County. The journey has taken us to the Two Brothers Pinot Noir where we believe terroir and technique have met at a beautiful crossroads. The composition of the Two Brothers wine is rooted heavily in Bennett Valley and Russian River Valley lending spice and earth to the nose, while the Sonoma Coast fruit gives an aromatic lift to the wine and brings length to the palate.
Named after siblings Tripp and Cushing Donelan, the Two Brothers Pinot Noir has become a fan favorite of our customers. It’s an extremely versatile wine. For one, it’s ready to drink upon release, but will also age beautifully for years if you throw a few bottles in your cellar. Our preferred food pairing with the Two Bros is always a game bird. Turkey, wings, quail, dove, or duck recipes are all super complimentary with this Pinot Noir’s dark fruit, spice, and freshness. We tend to recommend this wine for Thanksgiving every year.
Aromas recall a bouquet of rose petals and gingersnaps. A full, fleshy mouth-feel on the mid-palate with a beautiful fruit composition of plum sauce, cranberries, and fresh flowers.
Review:
Always a super-expressive wine, and in 2023 it truly delivers, showing pure, vibrant red fruit laced with brown baking spices and smoky clove. The palate is beautifully deep and penetrating, carrying impressive flavour intensity through to a long, mineral-driven, medium-bodied finish. Apple-skin tannins and savoury brown spice notes linger effortlessly, giving the wine both grip and persistence. Two Brothers is sourced from prime vineyard sites across Sonoma County, including Mardikian, Devoto, Bucher and Klopp in the Russian River Valley, along with Henry David Vineyard in Bennett Valley. The wine undergoes native fermentation, with 39% new French oak, and is aged for 17 months, incorporating approximately 16% whole clusters. - Jonathan CRISTALDI"
Decanter (January 5th 2026), 95 points