Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier: A Burgundy Legacy of Subtle Power
From 19th-century origins in Chambolle-Musigny to modern Grand Cru perfection, a measured evolution in terroir-driven Pinot Noir.
Heritage & History
The history of Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier begins in 1863, when its founder Frédéric Mugnier — then a liqueur and spirits producer in Dijon — acquired the Château de Chambolle-Musigny together with a modest collection of vineyards.
Over the following decades, the family gradually expanded its holdings. Beginning in the 1880s, Frédéric purchased vineyards in Chambolle from the declining Marey-Monge family; by 1899 he owned the Château, and in 1902 he added the historic walled vineyard Clos de la Maréchale in Nuits-Saint-Georges. By then, the estate encompassed roughly 24 hectares.
The 20th century brought turbulence. After Frédéric’s son died in 1924, the vineyards passed to several heirs, which eventually led to the sale of part of the holdings. In 1950 the family even leased the vineyards to other producers.
Only in 1985 did Frédéric Mugnier — a descendant of the founder — reclaim full control of the domaine. He revived winemaking under the family name and released his first full vintage that year. This rebirth set the foundation for the domaine’s modern identity: compact in size, focused, and devoted to the purest expression of terroir.