Above the Fog
It was during an impromptu aperitif in Pierre Fenals' cellar one spring evening — the sun setting over Saint-Aubin, glasses filling, the vineyard team returning with a sense of a job well done — that Margaux Rivaux and Lothar Galloo first met. She had been working with Pierre since 2016. He joined in 2018. For years, they learned biodynamic viticulture and zero-sulfur winemaking at the side of the old sage of Saint-Aubin. They brought him energy and fresh ideas; he gave them knowledge and wisdom. But then came the time to take flight. In 2021, Margaux founded La Chaume des Lies. Lothar joined a year later. They found the perfect location in Baubigny, in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, where the altitude allows them to live above the fog that hangs over the plain below. On 2 hectares across Baubigny, Auxey-Duresses, Saint-Aubin, and Bouzeron, they produce wines that are authentic, full of energy, and — in their image — irresistibly joyful.
The Aperitif That Changed Everything
Margaux Rivaux began her wine journey in 2016, working alongside Pierre Fenals at Maison en Belles Lies in Saint-Aubin — one of Burgundy's most respected natural wine estates. Pierre, the "old sage of Saint-Aubin," taught her biodynamic viticulture, zero-sulfur winemaking, and the patience required to make wine as close as possible to the grape and with respect for the terroir. It was demanding, transformative work — and it was where Margaux found her calling [^279^][^280^].
In 2018, Lothar Galloo joined the team. The two young winemakers — a couple in both vineyard and cellar — brought fresh energy and ideas to Maison en Belles Lies. They worked long hours, developed the business, and engaged in regular brainstorming sessions with Pierre. The trio exchanged knowledge constantly: Pierre's decades of experience, Margaux and Lothar's youthful determination and new perspectives. "These two youngsters are the pride of the old sage of Saint Aubin," as one importer noted. But the apprenticeship was always meant to be temporary — a foundation, not a destination [^279^][^289^].
In 2021, Margaux took the leap. She founded La Chaume des Lies — the name evoking the chaume (stubble) of harvested vines and the lies (lees) that give wine its texture and life. Lothar joined her a year later. For months, they worked like slave labour to refurbish their winery in Baubigny, building a quality work tool and giving themselves the means to launch into top-of-the-range vinification. At the same time, they acquired 2 hectares of vineyards not only next door in Baubigny, but also in Auxey-Duresses, Saint-Aubin, and Bouzeron. Today, the couple are 100% dedicated to their estate, though their bond with Pierre remains strong [^279^][^280^].
"A couple in both vineyard and cellar, Margaux and Lothar have created their estate with 4 hands, and a rare vision, will and talent!"
— Mes Bourgognes Beaune
Baubigny, Auxey & Bouzeron
La Chaume des Lies' 2 hectares are scattered across four distinct terroirs in the Côte de Beaune and its southern extension. The winery itself is in Baubigny, a small village in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune where the altitude — often above the fog line that hangs over the plain below — provides cooler nights and preserved acidity. The parcels in Auxey-Duresses, Saint-Aubin, and Bouzeron add further diversity: limestone and clay in Auxey, chalky soils in Saint-Aubin, and the distinctive red clay of Bouzeron's plateau [^279^][^280^].
The farming is certified organic and practicing biodynamic. Margaux and Lothar work their vines without any synthetic chemicals, respecting the lunar calendar for vineyard work and cellar operations. The vines range from young plantings to magnificent 80-year-old parcels — particularly in Auxey-Duresses, where a small plot of 43 ares (0.43 hectares) produces wines of extraordinary vertical structure and ageing potential. In Baubigny, a new 12-acre parcel planted to 80% Gamay offers a different expression of the Hautes Côtes [^279^][^286^].
The couple's approach is hands-on and meticulous. They hand-harvest every cluster, sort carefully in the vineyard, and transport fruit in small crates to their refurbished cellar. The work is physical and demanding — "like slave labour" during the initial renovation — but the result is fruit of exceptional purity and energy. As one importer described it: "A young nature adventure on the Côte de Beaune" [^279^][^289^].
Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Altitude above the fog line. Cool nights, preserved acidity. New 12-acre parcel, 80% Gamay. Home to the winery — a refurbished space built with "slave labour" and vision. The estate's spiritual and physical centre.
Small parcel of 43 ares. Magnificent 80-year-old vines. Great terroir, very expressive. Limestone and clay soils. Produces wines of beautiful vertical structure and radiant future. The estate's most age-worthy cuvée.
Chalky soils, cool climate. The village where Margaux first learned her trade with Pierre Fenals. Delicate vinification, 24 months of ageing for the 2023 vintage. Full of finesse, long, complex, with quiet elegance.
Highest point of the plateau, red clay soils. Aligoté territory — the appellation dedicated to this variety. Second release aged 24 months, gaining volume and fullness. A more voluminous style that brings exceptional length.
No Sulfur, Whole-Cluster, Patience
La Chaume des Lies' winemaking philosophy was forged in Pierre Fenals' cellar and refined by Margaux and Lothar's own vision. All wines are made without sulfur — a commitment inherited from their mentor and embraced with conviction. Fermentation is spontaneous, driven by indigenous yeasts. The wines are unfined and unfiltered, with only minimal sulfur when absolutely necessary (though the estate's stated goal is zero). Whole-cluster fermentation is the norm for reds, adding spice, structure, and aromatic complexity from the stems [^278^][^283^].
The couple's most radical decision came with the 2023 vintage: they switched to two years' ageing for all their Chardonnays — Saint-Aubin, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, and Bouzeron. For a young domaine, this represents a real financial risk — capital tied up in barrels for 24 months before any revenue. But from a quality perspective, it is a more than pertinent choice. The wines have gained depth, serenity, and fullness. "Well-structured, composed whites that take their time to reveal themselves," as one critic described them. It is a statement of confidence in their own work and a bet on the future [^279^].
The reds are handled with equal care. The Bourgogne "Les Châtaigniers" — from a fine parcel in Saint-Aubin with 7-year-old vines — is 100% whole harvest, with small berries and magnificent substance. The Hautes Côtes de Beaune is a blend of 4 parcels, also 100% whole harvest, with infusion-type vinification and very fine substance from vines dating to 1942. The Coteaux Bourguignons — from the new Baubigny parcel — is 80% Gamay, super-fresh at 11.5% alcohol, and utterly pretty. Each wine reflects a specific place and a specific decision [^279^][^288^].
The Joy of Restraint
What distinguishes La Chaume des Lies from many young natural wine estates is not just their technical skill but their emotional intelligence. Margaux and Lothar make wines that are "authentic, full of energy and, in their image, irresistibly joyful." This joy is not the product of excess — of high extraction, heavy oak, or aggressive marketing. It is the joy of restraint: of letting the vineyard speak, of waiting 24 months for a Chardonnay to find its voice, of accepting 11.5% alcohol in a Gamay because that is what the vintage gave. Their wines are serious without being solemn, precise without being cold, and joyful without being frivolous. It is a rare balance, and it is the mark of two winemakers who have found their path.
Four Hands, One Vision
Margaux Rivaux and Lothar Galloo are a couple in both life and work — a partnership of equals that defines every aspect of La Chaume des Lies. They share the vineyard work, the cellar duties, the business decisions, and the creative vision. "A couple in both vineyard and cellar," as one importer described them. "They have created their estate with 4 hands, and a rare vision, will and talent." This unity is not just romantic; it is practical. Two people, fully aligned, can achieve more than twice what one person alone can manage [^279^][^280^].
Their youth is an asset, not a handicap. In a region where age and lineage are often prerequisites for credibility, Margaux and Lothar have earned respect through quality alone. Their wines sell out quickly — the Pinot Noir vintages are "announced as sold out" almost as soon as they are released. International importers from Australia to the US to Denmark have discovered them "at the start of their journey" and built relationships that will last decades. The couple's energy, combined with Pierre Fenals' mentorship, has created something that feels both timeless and utterly contemporary [^279^][^292^].
The future is bright and ambitious. The 24-month Chardonnay ageing programme will continue. New parcels will be acquired. The Baubigny winery will evolve. And through it all, Margaux and Lothar will remain dedicated to the principles that brought them here: biodynamic farming, zero sulfur, whole-cluster fermentation, and an unwavering respect for terroir. They are proof that the best Burgundy is not always made by those with the longest histories, but by those with the clearest vision and the most stubborn joy [^279^].
"On their 2 hectares, they produce wines that are authentic, full of energy and, in their image, irresistibly joyful."
— Mes Bourgognes Beaune
The Chaume Range
All wines are made from certified organic, biodynamically farmed fruit, hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeast, and bottled without sulfur. Unfined and unfiltered. The 2023 Chardonnays saw 24 months of barrel ageing — a rare and courageous choice for a young domaine. The reds are whole-cluster, with infusion-type vinification and minimal manipulation. Production is tiny, and allocations are strictly limited [^278^][^279^].