Denis Mortet was a luminary in the world of Burgundy, whose journey began alongside his father at Domaine Charles Mortet. By the mid-1980s, he gracefully assumed the mantle of winemaking. It was during this period that he crossed paths with Henri Jayer, igniting a profound and enduring friendship and mentorship. In 1991, as Charles Mortet retired, Denis embarked on his own path, inheriting 4.5 hectares in Gevrey-Chambertin to establish his eponymous domaine.
A pivotal moment came when Denis had the privilege of tasting Lalou Bize Leroy's entire 1991 lineup alongside the legendary figure herself. This encounter, coupled with his time with Jayer, profoundly shaped his winemaking philosophy, influencing not only his own creations but also those of his son in the years to come. From the outset, Denis gained acclaim among wine aficionados and peers alike for his meticulous vineyard management and wines characterized by their alluring textures, destined to withstand the test of time. Under his stewardship, the domaine expanded to 11 hectares, with retiring winemakers entrusting their land to him, knowing it would receive unparalleled care.
Upon Denis's untimely passing, his legacy was seamlessly passed to his son Arnaud in 2006, who had worked alongside him since the 1999 vintage. With Arnaud at the helm, and with the invaluable support of his sister Clémence and mother Laurence, the Mortet name continued its tradition of elite farming, elevated to even greater heights. Arnaud refined the wine style, minimizing new oak, reducing extraction, and honing vinification techniques to achieve wines of increased elegance and precision. Ever driven to excel, he constantly seeks to enhance both vineyard practices and cellar techniques, even employing the labor-intensive method of whole-cluster fermentation. These efforts have propelled Mortet wines to new levels, while preserving the hallmark depth and sensuality that define the estate as a torchbearer of the Jayer legacy.