The McKinlay family established Domaine de Mourchon in 1998 with the purchase of 17 hectares of existing vines. Until that point the fruit from these vines had been vinified at the local co-operative and so it was necessary to both build a winery and create a brand at the same time. They were convinced by the outstanding ‘terroir’ and the quality of the vines (average age 55 years) and commissioned the building of a state-of-the art gravity-flow winery, which was completed just in time for the 1999 harvest. Joined in 2000 by winemaker Sebastien Magnouac, Mourchon soon began to make a name for itself and in 2003 a further 7 hectares of vines were purchased in order to supply an ever-increasing demand from both the international and domestic market.
While 13 varietals are permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Emmanuel uses only one for Rayas’ red wines: Grenache. For the whites, he uses Grenache Blanc and Clairette. Grapes come from the three vineyards, are vinified and aged separately in old barrels, then are blended to achieve Emmanuel’s vision for the vintage, always adhering to Château Rayas’ signature style. With a Pinot Noir–like flavor profile — kirsch, cherry, peat moss — coupled with a peppery Mediterranean flair that is distinctively “Southern France,” there is simply nothing like a bottle of Château Rayas.
Domaine Santa Duc was first established in 1874 in the Southern Rhone cru of Gigondas. Yves stopped selling the crop off to négociants in 1985 in favor of bottling his own wine instead. The winery was recently certified organic in 2012. Yves practices de-budding early in the growing season to lend rigor to the fruit, leaf-pulling to increase circulation, and early harvests to preserve freshness. Yves farms 12.5 hectares of lieux-dits throughout Gigondas. Generous, fruity and concentrated, the vines reflect the soil and the way in which they are produced.
If one was to describe quite simply the style of wines produced at the Ameillaud, there are probably three key words : maturity, generosity and balance. Southern Rhône grape-varieties have an important aromatic potential, and at l’Ameillaud we try to enhance this. When fermenting, we seek to protect this fruit expression whilst working to obtain a certain level of tannic support, giving sufficient structure to ensure several years of maturing, but nothing excessive.
On 250 acres of land in the hills above the village of Valréas, a beautiful Provençal house, surrounded by olive and truffle oak trees, lavender fields and thick forest, is the center of the idyllic micro-estate of Domaine du Seminaire. Hervé Pouizin is the fourth generation to farm this land; he and his wife, Mathilde have preserved the self-sufficient estate mostly as it was a century ago, with one key exception: they converted everything to organic farming. These wines offer an amazing value: They are simple, pretty wines done very well.
Located between Languedoc and Provence, the vines overlook the lakes of the Camargue. The wines are made from the great grape varieties of the Rhône Valley and present a unique style. For four generations the Boyer family has succeeded in producing wines that offer Elegance, Harmony and Expression.
The Domaine de la Monardière was founded in 1987 by Martine and Christian Vache. Both in love with vineyards and wine, Martine and Christian took over the family property and began a long programme of restructuring the vineyards, building the cellar and preparing for the distribution and sale of their wine. At present, the estate has 50 acres of vineyards; its wines are sold directly by the Domaine, both in France and for exportation.
There is a sense of focus and implicity at Domaine du Cayron. "I make one wine," says Michel Faraud. There are no cuvees reserves, no declassified Cotes du Rhone, only Gigondas. Happily, Faraud's years of conservatism have paid off. His wine is one of the most loved Gigondas on the market. When frosts in 1956 destroyed many of Faraud's olive trees, the family decided to start from scratch and plant vines from which the Domaine takes its name. Today their vineyard plots are scattered throughout the Gigondas appellation, the best vines being in the Col du Cayron, 1500 feet above sea level, nestled into the spiky Dentelles mountains, a site which produces low yields and rich fruit.
Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières is a very old family estate, whose name comes from a place of pilgrimage visited by the Provencal people in the Middle Ages to protect them from the plague. The old vines go deep in the chalky-clayey subsoil and profit by the little Trignon valley microclimate. The grapes are harvested by hand and crafted according traditional winemaking methods.
The vineyards are all situated in the southern Rhone Valley, and are located in Chateauneuf du Pape, Lirac, Laudun, and the Cotes du Rhone region, in total there are 140ha. The estate is now fully biodynamic from the 2014 harvest, and is the one to watch in the Rhone Valley according to the likes of Robert Parker, etc. Bernard Duseigneur is meticulous with his vineyards and his winemaking. The range of wines include Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Lirac and Chateauneuf du Pape. In their newly acquired vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape, part of the vineyard has vines that are over 100 years old.
The Royer family has a century old past as winegrowers in Chateauneuf du Pape. The father of Jean-Marie Royer died when Jean-Marie was a child and for some years all the their land was let out to other vignerons. As a young man Jean Royer helped his Grandmother in her small vineyards and when she died he inherited a small part of her fields. In 1985, having finished his viticulture schooling, Jean-Marie returned to the family vineyards and over the years he has bought more land from the family and today he owns 6 ha. with 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah/Mourvedre.
Halfway between the Papal city of Avignon and the Roman city of Orange, Domaine Saint Laurent spreads its vineyards on the hills with the scents of Provence. For five generations, the winemaking family has produced wines with respect for nature and traditions. The founder was François Sinard. In the early twentieth century, he decided to invest more in the area of Vine and Wine. The choice to focus exclusively on this activity brought him a reputation outside the town. Since 1976, Robert Henri Sinard took over the torch. The family continues to work through his son, Laurent.
A family estate for five generations, we still have one bottle of 1847 Muscat that demonstrates just how old it is. We started making wine at the beginning of the 19th Century at Domaine des Bernardins. The property was previously owned by Bernardin monks before being transformed into a wine estate. Mr Louis Castaud was the first one to show real concern about how the village’s traditional production had almost disappeared and achieved appellation status for Muscat de Beaumes de Venise in 1945 after 10 years of hard work. His family were able to make Domaine des Bernardins thrive by combining know-how and traditional values. Today his daughter Renée Castaud is still active in day-to-day life at the estate. His granddaughter Elisabeth, her husband Andrew Hall and their son Romain now make this wine that’s part of the family history.
A protected area, privileged, with a breathtaking view of the Luberon Massif... A place that takes its name (Fontaine Blanche / Font Alba) from a fountain erected in the 18th century and still today pours its crystalline waters, and more than welcome in summer. Although the vines are mostly thirty or even fifty years old for Grenache's feet, the Domaine was created in 1999. Vines cultivated on the hillside and benefiting from an exceptional sunshine of more than 2800 hours a year.
On the foothills of Mt. Ventoux lie the 20 hectares of the winery with it’s share very old vines, +80 year-old, at 300-500 meters above sea level growing in Triassic soil. The organic conversion completed in 2012 and the winery certified with the European Organic label. In a short time, the Clos de Trias winery has become one of the best wineries in the Southern Rhône region.
The Priory of Saint-Pierre de Mejans was first mentioned in 1118 when it figured in a list of properties owned by the Abbey of Saint Andé de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and confirmed by the Pope Gélase II. The Priory has been affiliated with wine-making since medieval times. In January 1343 the Archbishop of Aix stayed there for two nights and was horrified to discover that part of the church was used as a wine storage space. He immediately ordered the destruction of the wine storage partitions and ensured that the wine barrels were to be kept in a more appropriated place. After the revolution the Priory was seized by the State, sold and transformed into a silkworm breeding farm and later continued to operate as a vineyard.
The Chateau de la Selve was a castle on the frontier of the Empire and then of the Kingdom of France. It then became the hunting lodge of the famous Dukes de Joyeuse, before being transformed into a farm after a few centuries. Built during the 13th century, it has the typical architecture of many of the castles of the Bas-Vivarais. Located on the banks of the Chassezac, the main Ardèche's tributary, it benefits from a unique and protected environment. In 1990, this magnificent house became the property of Jean-Régis and Magdeleine Chazallon. The Château thus became a family abode. Wine is grown with respect for the environment and the goal of letting the soil express itself. In this perspective, they are always looking for better areas for vines to grow and have adopted biodynamic principals.
Located in a somewhat anonymous back-street of St Peray in Rhone, Domaine Du Tunnel is forging a reputation as one of the leading wine producers in newly rejuvenated villages of St Peray and Cornas, both famous through history and throughout France for making, respectively, excellent white and red wines. Now, with the savoir faire of young vignerons such as Stéphane Robert, this reputation is set to achieve more international recognition.
Aurélien Chatagnier created his own domaine in 2002 while he was just in his early 20s. He doesn’t come from a winemaking family, but as a teenager he worked in the vines for Domaine Jamet, where he became inspired to learn more about winemaking. He worked for several years with François Villard, who eventually pushed him to head out on his own. Starting with just over 1 hectare of rented vines, Aurélien has steadily built up a domaine of almost 10 hectares by purchasing, bartering, and replanting vineyards around the town of St-Pierre-de-Boeuf at the Northern extreme of the Saint Joseph appellation. The vineyards are predominantly granite and extremely steep. The house style runs towards a lean, pure style of winemaking, and shows the reason why some of the best producers in the area decided to pass the torch over to Aurélien as one of the best young winemakers in the region. Aurélien farms organically and employs a light touch in the cellar where he favors native yeasts, mostly used oak, limited extraction, and bottles without fining or filtration.
Located in the northern part of the Rhone Valley, in the historic heart of the Saint Joseph appellation, the estate made its first harvest in 2014. After several years of experience in France and abroad, Bastien Jolivet decided to return to the family farm and associate with his father. They stop selling the grapes to make their own wine. The estate is today composed of 8ha, mostly in Saint Joseph red and white.
Domaine des Hauts Châssis is a 12 hectare estate in the middle of the locality called “Les Hauts Châssis” in the south of the Crozes Hermitage appellation area. It has been in existence for 3 generations. The current owner Franck Faugier has been the winemaker since taking over the family's vineyards in 1998 and made the decision to leave the local co-operative and go out on his own. The equipment is modern (stainless steel vats) but the estate is run with an eye to tradition. Franck prefers mechanical soil cultivation methods, reasoned pest control, green harvesting and leaf-stripping by hand. Maturing is adapted to the structure of the grape.
Nestled against the hillsides of Hermitage and St. Joseph in the appellation of Crozes–Hermitage, the estate was first planted in the late 1940s by Gilles’ grandparents. The estate now totals 37 acres, including two and a half planted with white varietals and a small parcel of Syrah in St. Joseph. His vines are planted in the stony and sandy La Terrace de Chassis district. An understated, meticulous winemaker, Gilles farms his plots organically, believing this is the best way to honestly give voice to the terroir.
Bernard Burgaud is one of the more understated producers of the Côte-Rôtie appellation, making just one wine from 100% Syrah. From his small domaine, perched atop a steep hill overlooking Ampuis, he produces 1,000 cases a year from 22 acres of vines planted in several lieux-dits in the appellation, the majority from the Les Moutonnes and Côte Blonde vineyards. Bernard believes the blending of his terroirs results in a more complete and balanced wine: His vineyards in the Côte Brune provide power and muscularity, while those in the Côte Blonde bring finesse and elegance.
Rimauresq takes its name from the Real Mauresque, the river that flows through the vineyards. The domaine sits at the foot of the Massif des Maures mountain range, 20 minutes from Toulon. With a unique microclimate, the estate benefits from both the cooling mistral winds and the shade of the mountains above. This shade gives a longer ripening period in the crucial weeks prior to harvest. Nine noble grape varieties are found at Rimauresq, including Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Tibouren for the rosés. Senior winemaker Pierre Duffort has many years of winemaking experience in the Côtes de Provence appellation. Before leading Rimauresq, he directed his family domaine, La Moutete, at nearby Cuers. Since his arrival at Rimauresq, the domaine has won industry-wide recognition for excellence. It was awarded three stars in three consecutive years by Guide Hachette.
In the heart of the Var, in the Golden Triangle of Côtes-de-Provence, Domaine Turenne gathers its 20 hectares of vines around the family home. Here the work in the vineyard and cellar is done with care and reflection to offer wines in the image of Cécile and Philippe Bénézet: sincere, respectful of their terroir and nature, creators of pleasure.
While Bastide de la Ciselette may be a neophyte as a domaine—becoming the 57th estate of the AOC in 2010—they have been tending the vineyards for many years, opting to sell their fruit to the local co-op. In seven short years, owner Robert de Salvo—with the help of talented vigneron Romain Bournaud—has become a reliable source for classic Bandol alongside its more famous neighbors. With 15 hectares under vine, Bastide de la Ciselette sits to the north of the village of Brulat du Castellet, looking east to the medieval village of Castellet and south to the Cadière-d’Azur.
Château Haut Blanville is a family-owned wine estate, built from scratch parcel by parcel since 1997. Their range of wines reveals the exceptional diversity and richness of their terroirs – qualities much appreciated by lovers of handcrafted fine wines the world over.
Château Vignelaure "the vineyard of the sacred spring" is the jewel in the crown of the appellation Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence. Set high in the hills, our vineyards cover more than 60 hectares and it has established a reputation as one of the finest producers in the South of France. The wines is a perfect example of Provencal winemaking at the highest level and are made of grapes which includes some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in the 1960's from cuttings from Château La Lagune. Vignelaure has a long tradition of producing highly rewarded wines, which are classical, elegant and pure, while at the same time pushing boundaries and concepts of what is possible to achieve.
François Paret and his daughter Jeromine own one of the largest of the 13 Cassis estates, and one which has managed to retain its position despite encroaching urban development. Its white wines, which form up to 70% of the production, show typical Cassis character with honey, white peaches and citrus character, and developing character with age.
In the same foothills of Mont Sainte Victoire in which Paul Cézanne lived and found inspiration, the Sumeire family has thrived since the thirteenth century. This magical place is shielded from northern winds, with abundant sunshine and chalky soil regulating temperatures and helping to create a unique microclimate. The Sumeires added Château Maupague to their collection of properties in 1991, with a goal of creating a classic rosé on par with the finest of the region, light in color, fresh, aromatic and dry.
Domaine Begude is located in Limoux, in the eastern foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in Southern France, 30 minutes south of the medieval city of Carcassone. The topography and strong Atlantic influences make it one of the coolest areas in the region, with ideal conditions for slow, even ripening of the Chardonnay grapes used in their wines. The cooling Atlantic winds and higher elevations (over 1,000 feet) allow the vineyards to be planted in optimal locations – southerly facing hillsides. The winery is devoted to environmentally sustainable practices and their grapes are organically grown. Only organic sheep manure is used for fertilizer, the vines are dry farmed and weeding is done manually, with no pesticides used.
Mas Des Caprices lies in the Languedoc region, in a town called Leucate on the Mediterranean coast, between Narbonne and Perpignan. The 12 hectares of vineyard lie partly on the maritime part of the AOC Fitou, and partly in Corbieres, which also belongs to the AOC Rivesaltes.
Tour de Pech has spent five generations in the hands of the Saint-Exupéry family, and the vineyards and winery are still proudly family owned. The Pech-Celéyran vineyards are dry farmed with very low average yields of 4 tons/Ha. The vines are soothed by winds from the northwest and the Mediterranean, and are surrounding by fragrant scrubland and pine forests, which the family believes influence the aromatic nature of their wines.
Domaine Petroni is located close to the lake Diana and has been created in 1885. It is an idyllic location, drenched in sunlight, overlooking the tranquillity of the Mediterranean Sea and has all of the natural qualities needed for an exceptional wine. It is now run by the Ramazotti brothers. Its beautiful white stone building is symbolic of the tradition, natural produce and respect for the environment that prevail at the estate.
In the 1930s, René de Médeville was feeling the effects of the economic slump that had hit the whole area, so he built concrete vats to replace costly barrels. After a few years, he observed that the wines were breathing well, maturing more slowly and developing more complex aromas. For more than half a century, the Médevilles have let their Sauternes age for decades in concrete vats. The wines never see the inside of a wooden barrel; they go directly from vat to bottle. Although Gilette was not included in the 1855 classification, its wines can compete with the best.
Julie and Xavier Gonet-Médeville are, in many ways, the first couple of French wines. Both hail from storied winemaking families: Julie’s family is famous for its incomparable Chateau Gilette, and Xavier comes from a long line of Champagne growers in Le Mesnil. Leading a new generation of winemakers, they bring their family knowledge, methods and passion to the many wines they now make together.Julie and Xavier bought the seven-acre Château des Eyrins estate from Eric Grangerou in 2008. The Grangerou family has been cellar masters for Château Margaux for three generations. On a hillside plateau in the heart of Margaux, on the left bank of the Gironde River, Château des Eyrins produces a classic Margaux: dense and deep, with incredible finesse and freshness, the wine undeniably expresses the identity of this glorious appellation.
Julie and Xavier Gonet-Médeville are, in many ways, the first couple of French wines. Both hail from storied winemaking families: Julie’s family is famous for its incomparable Chateau Gilette, and Xavier comes from a long line of Champagne growers in Le Mesnil. Leading a new generation of winemakers, they bring their family knowledge, methods and passion to the many wines they now make together.Julie’s father, Christian Médeville, integrated Château Respide-Médeville, in the heart of the Graves region of Bordeaux, into the family estate in 1959. Today, his daughter and her husband coax great Graves Blanc and Rouge from the sandy, gravelly clay soil, allowing the purity of the fruit to shine through.
Château Franc-Patarabet is located in Saint-Emilion surrounded by prestigious estates. There are about 5500 vines per hectare: 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet-Franc and 5% Cabernet-Sauvignon. The wine harvest is mechanical; when they are perfectly ripe, the Merlot vines are first harvested, then the Cabernets (generally about a week later).
Returning to the Saint-Émilion of her childhood, Olivia Le Calvez has found her new home on the plateau of Puisseguin. She co-founded Château Clarisse in 2009 with her husband, the world-renowned hotelier Didier Le Calvez, formerly of The Pierre and The Plaza in New York and currently of The Bristol in Paris. Named after their daughter, the property is planted with nearly 11 acres of Merlot and two acres of Cabernet Franc.
In 2009, Julie and Xavier purchased Monplaisir, which consists of two parcels: one planted on silt below Château d’Issan, the other planted on gravel and clay below Château Margaux. Made of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, this pleasing cuvée is aged primarily in tank, with only 10% aging in cask. Monplaisir is a Bordeaux Superieur adjacent to the appellation of Margaux. It is this proximity the prestigious appellation that makes this wine a great value for the money — a rare find in Bordeaux.
In 2005, Vincent marked the arrival of the 6th generation of the Lacoste family to be involved in the running of Château de Cranne. This is a highly qualified generation, albeit one that has taken its time to arrive on the scene. 3 years of observation, listening and understanding have allowed us to imagine a new direction: placing new emphasis on exceptional terroirs, with a view to achieving “0 pesticide” status. Unoaked, fresh, light, with simple and pure aromas… this encapsulates Vincent’s taste. As any chef would say: “It’s not easy to cook something you wouldn’t eat”.
Situated on a rocky outcrop, the Château du Pierrail looks over a valley in wich the river Fonchotte meanders. This small river rises in the estate and flows into a 3 hectares lake situated in woodland in the middle of the property. This fine château of classic design, Mansart roofed, has a facade flanked by two towers. It was built in the 17th century by the Segur family on the site of an older middle ages château. From 1782 and more than a century the property was owned by the Barons de Brianson, and large portraits of the family as cavaliers are hung in the main salon of the château.
The Dufour family has cultivated the vines and produced Barsac-Sauternes wine since 1814 on the unique soils of Château Simon. The ancestral know-how in wine making has been passed on from generation to generation as the property has been gradually enlarged reaching now an area of 38 hectares including the appellations Bordeaux, Graves and Barsac-Sauternes. Today, the three generations of the Dufour family, among them highly qualified wine engineers and oenologists work together on the property and associate their talents to produce wines of excellent quality. Our constant concern with quality allows us to obtain wines highly appreciated by French as well as foreign clients.
Chateau les Croisille is a small, family domain that grows Malbec on the calcareous clay soil terraces of Cahors. Artisan winemaking and a focus on organic principles — with virtually all of the vineyard work done by hand — ensure that the grapes are healthy and the wines are delicious.
Pascal Verhaeghe and his brother, Jean-Marc, bring a welcome refinement to the wines of picturesque Cahors, located about an hour and a half east of Bordeaux. Their father began making wines at Château du Cèdre in the 1970s, and the fun-loving sons took over in the 1990s, banning all herbicides and chemicals, and adopting a domaine motto: “Move forward, experience new ways.”Cahors wines are made predominantly from Malbec and known for being powerful, rich and dark. Pascal and Jean-Marc build on these terroir-driven qualities to produce wines that are very polished and remarkably balanced. These wines are quite approachable when young, but they also age exceptionally well.
Like generations of growers before him, Charles Hours takes great pride in the rich history and quality wines of Jurançon, a hilly, relatively cool region in southwest France, at the base of the Pyrénées Mountains. For his sweet, late-harvest Jurançon, Clos Uroulat, Charles takes several passes through the vineyard, hand-selecting grapes. The small, thick-skinned Petit Manseng are picked after they are partially dried on the vine, and the result is an extremely elegant wine.
On some of the most beautiful land in southwest France, Château Tour des Gendres sits in the appellation of Bergerac. This centuries-old stronghold of classic French food and wine culture is located on the bank of the Dordogne River, a 90-minute drive east of Bordeaux. Château Tour des Gendres is a household name found on virtually every fine wine-list in France, yet it is little-known in the United States. These wines provide outstanding value; they are approachable and pleasurable, crunchy and bright, with an abundance of fruit.
Jean-Claude Berrouet is an Irouléguy native who left home to serve for more than three decades as the winemaker at Château Pétrus. But the Basque region has a powerful pull, and Jean-Claude eventually returned home to his native soil. Appropriately, he named his estate “Herri Mina”; in Basque, herri means “country,” and mina means “homesick.”
The Coste Motte winery is located in the Duras region in the Southwest of France, where the tradition of winemaking stretches back to Roman times. Their Sauvignon Blanc vines have an average age of 25 years and enjoy well-drained gravel and sandy loess soils, which sit atop a limestone plateau. The climactic conditions are also ideal, with a strong influence from the Atlantic Ocean and long, sunny summers, tempered by cool sea breezes. The winery strives to preserve their land, to provide future generations with fertile soils and a healthy environment. Sustainable farming methods are used and they are certified by AgriConfiance.
Joly studied at Columbia University and subsequently started to work for J.P. Morgan in New York City as an investment banker. He was later posted to London, but in 1977, he left banking to take over his family's wine estate Château de la Roche aux Moines in Savennières. At the time he took over the family estate, Joly was sceptical about modern agriculture and the effect it had on nature. He encountered a book on biodynamic farming and took an active interest in the ideas found there, and from 1980 started to experiment with them in his wine estate. From 1981, the estate's top wine Clos de la Coulée de Serrant has been made biodynamically, and from 1984, the estate's entire range has been produced biodynamically.
The Feray family purchased Domaine du Petit Coteau in 2005. Mr. Feray, returned to live among the vines in his native Vouvray in 1994 at 60 years old after a succesful career as a professor and a surgeon. He knew little of viticulture at the time, but was drawn back to his roots. In addition to what he learned through independent study, Mr. Ferray built a team to help him along his path, hiring Jérôme Loisy as winemaker and Tony Brulin to take care of the vineyard. Both are still with the family today. Mr. Feray’s son Gilles joined the estate full time in 2003.
Domaine Laporte is the result of a perfect blending of two renowned Sancerre families. Founded in 1850 in the village of Saint-Satur, Domaine Laporte was run until 1986 by René Laporte. René was a pioneer in producing low-yield, high-quality Sancerre during a time of overproduction. Domaine Laporte is one of the most highly respected estates in the Loire Valley. It holds more than 74 acres, and the flagship Sancerre comes from one of the finest vineyards in the appellation, Domaine du Rochoy, a 25-acre monopole vineyard carved out of the flint hillside overlooking the Loire River.
The Marionnet family has owned the Domaine de la Charmoise since 1850. The winery is nestled in the village of Soings, 30 km south of Blois, deep in the forests of La Sologne. Here, the vines benefit from a mild climate and their unique situation, resting at the highest point between the Loire and Cher rivers. This ensures excellent maturity of the grapes and provides shelter against spring frosts.
The Domaine de l'R is a viticulture in phase with the elements that make it up: soil, water and air. The management of the vineyard is as natural as possible by working the soil and protecting the vineyards of mildew and powdery mildew with sulfur and copper.
From 1990, Matthieu and Sylvanie Bouchet took over the 6 ha family winery located at the place called La Salle. Matthieu’s father, François Bouchet, was the French pioneer in biodynamics and his winery was converted into a biodynamic certified domaine in 1962. Matthieu and Sylvanie chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue to farm the same.
Louis Métaireau — along with his band of vignerons d’art, as his like-minded group of producers were known — was instrumental in restoring the reputation of the Muscadet appellation in the middle of the 20th century. It was he who first began leaving his wines sur lie (on their fine lees) through the winter. The 23-acre vineyard in the heart of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine enjoys perfect exposure between the two famed rivers that lend their names to the AOC, and ranges in vine age from 30 years old to a parcel planted in 1937. The vines are tended organically, and everything is harvested by hand — a rarity in this region.
Domaine Bonnet-Huteau is located in the heart of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, 20 minutes from Nantes and 10 km from Clisson, a small town with an Italianate charm along the river Sèvre Nantaise. This domain owns a medieval house which was the origin of the town La Chapelle-Heulin and has been producing Muscadet for over 150 years.
This is the exclusively biodynamic label of one of Sancerre's most esteemed producers. The estate of François le Saint is totals 56 hectares of which 5.5 are dedicated to Sancerre. The wines are organically grown in kimmeridgian marls from vines that are 25-35 years old, and in the year 2000 they switched to entirely biodynamic harvest and vinification.
Domaine de la Bergerie has been a family estate since 1964, first purchased by Marie-Scholastique Horeau and currently run by her grandson, Yves Guégniard, with his wife, Marie-Annick. The domaine has always adhered to a high standard of excellence: green harvest, strict sorting and separate vinification of each harvested parcel. Now, as Yves and Marie-Annick’s daughter, Anne, begins to take the lead, the domaine is converting to organic viniculture and exhibiting an exciting new energy — and fascinating wines.
Clos de la Briderie sits on the right bank of the Loire River, between Blois and Tours, facing the Château de Chaumont sur Loire. The Girault family has been making wine here since 1854, so it was only natural for Vincent Girault to continue in his family’s footsteps. At the age of 18, he oversaw his first harvest and began to blend his own wines that reflect his passion for the terroir.
Domaine Guy Mardon is located on a plateau between the Loir and Cher rivers. An Atlantic climate with low rainfall, ample sun and cool nights, combined with sandy soil over a clay base leads to an excellent acidity and aromatics in their grapes.
The Bailly family has been growing wine in the heart of Pouilly-Fumé for five generations. The father and son team of Jean Pierre and Patrice Bailly work closely together to produce a Pouilly-Fumé of authentic, traditional character, with a powerful musky fragrance and a flinty edge, from vines up to 40 years old. This wine has real elegance, with fragrant citrus and gooseberry fruit balanced by mineral-laced acidity and is made to improve with age. Father and son make wines of character and refuse to give way to modern easy-drinking trends.
The Bellier family has worked hard to produce high quality wines for three generations. Domaine de Lery is located in Vineuil (Loire Valley), overlooking the Loire River. The philosopy at Domaine de Lery is to produce quality wines with maximum care for the environment. The winery is a member of Terra Vitis, an organization that certifies sustainable farming. They encourage biodiversity in the estate and no fertilizers are used. Today, Audrey and Marion, the family's 3rd generation, carefully produce classic, elegant, and well balanced wines.
The Cru Beaujolais of Moulin-à-Vent inherited its name from the stoic windmill that has overlooked these vineyards since the 15th century. In the same silent, consistent manner, Paul Janin and his family have tended their Gamay vines for generations. Paul’s son, Eric, is very much a product of this place; he is a fourth-generation grower, overseeing the fruit from its inception in the vineyard to its final resting place in the bottle. The grapes are farmed using lutte raisonnée methods, and the flaky, pink granite soil produces structured, powerful wines that gain even more character as they age. Bright, firm and earthy, they are reminiscent of the great terroirs of the Côte de Nuit. The Janins’ traditional wines have proved to be as steadfast as the Moulin-à-Vent itself.
The Cornins use only biodynamic farming methods, and their only motive is to give each of their vineyards the best chance to express its own terroir. All the wines are fermented in stainless-steel tanks, and the single-vineyard wines are aged in used oak barrels. They bottle both Mâcon-Villages from their respective villages, reflecting the individual parcels with each bottling. Cornin wines are voluptuous, rich and succulent, with a distinctively fresh and ethereal quality.
Emmaunel Guillot and his brothers Patrice and Ludovic carry on the tradition from their parents and grandparents at Guillot-Broux. Emmanuel leads the cellar work as head winemaker, a position he has returned to after a distinguished career as a Sommelier in London at the two Michelin starred L’Ortolan. The family legacy is a rich one as their’s was the first certified organic vineyard in all of Burgundy. Today, in addition to being the winemaker, Emmanuel is head of the “CGAB” or Confederation of Organic Growers in Burgundy.”
Marc Delienne quit a job in Paris to pursue his long-standing passion for wine professionally, purchasing the Château de l’Abbeye Saint Laurent d’Arpayé in the village of Fleurie after a stint under the tutelage of Eloi Durbach of the Domaine de Trévallon. He produced his inaugural vintage in 2015, and his two cuvées are very impressive indeed. The winemaking is simple: organically cultivated grapes are fermented without chaptalization or destemming, followed by élevage in foudre, concrete tanks and old Trévallon barrels. The wines are bottled without racking, fining or filtration with low levels of sulphur.
The Perrachon family has acquired and extended its domains of La Bottiere and Les Mouilles in Juliénas since 1601. The Mouilles climate is one of the most renowned in the area. The La Bottière castle is the place they age and raise their wines in their 17th century cellars. The Perrachon estate covers 25 ha / 60 acres with 6 crus in Beaujolais. Laurent tenders its vineyards with a special attention to sustainability. The family spirit is very much alive and the future of those domains is already assured.
Olivier and Corinne Merlin are skilled wine-makers who have always believed in the potential of their Mâconnais terroirs. Olivier Merlin had his first experience of the world of wine in 1977 when he took part in the grape harvest on a Mâconnais domaine. The ambiance and the family spirit he found there were the impulse which turned him towards a career in wine-growing.
The Dutron family has been making wine at their 40 acre estate in the town of Fuissé since 1835. Today, Domaine Dutron is made by winemaker Maxime Dutron, who joined his father in the family business in 2010. The winery grows only Chardonnay, with some vines up to 70 years old. The average age of vines is 35 years, with the vineyards situated on Southeast facing slopes of clay and limestone. The vineyards are situated around both the villages of Fuissé and Solutré at 820-985 feet of altitude, in the heart of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. Maxime is committed to continuously improving the quality of his wines, by keeping in mind the importance of “terroir” and using traditional methods in the vineyard.
In 1992, at the young age of 18, Stéphane Aladame was already, entirely independently, building up his own winemaking estate, after only just finishing his viticulture and enology studies in Beaune. He yearned to work in the vineyards, but did not inherit vines or any winemaking tradition whatsoever from his family. So when a grower in his hometown of Montagny-les-Buxy decided to retire and give him the opportunity to rent just less than three hectares of vines, the determined and ambitious Stéphane dove in headfirst. Over the years, he acquired new contracts and replanted abandoned vineyards, bringing the total surface area for the domaine up to 7 hectares today. He’s earned an outstanding reputation, and his bottles grace the tables of an impressive number of Michelin-starred restaurants throughout France and abroad. The appellation owes a great deal to Stéphane, who is now a driving force for an area otherwise somewhat lacking inspiration and dynamism.
Domaine Heitz-Lochardet started in 1857 with the Nie-Vantey family, owners of many vineyards from Santenay to Clos de Vougeot. Post-phylloxera, many of the vineyards were sold, but the best Cote de Beaune vineyards were kept in the family by Georges Lochardet. Two generations later, Brigitte Lochardet married Christian Heitz and her share of the family vineyards, 5ha, became Heitz-Lochardet, which Brigitte organically farmed.
David Moreau is a young winemaker based in Santenay, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. He tends to 5 ha in Village and 1er Cru Appellations of the family vineyard, taking care of both the vines and the environment in order to produce great quality wines that reflect each Terroir. Sustainable viticulture requires more constraints than classic grape-growing, but is safer for both human beings and nature.
Son of the late Marc Morey, Michel Morey, and his wife, Fabienne (from the Pillot clan), began the Morey-Coffinet Domaine in the late 1970s with a dowry of vineyards bestowed on them by two families with extensive history in the region. With a stable foundation of 1er Crus from the southeast-facing hillside, the whites speak to the very essence of Chassagne, with fragrant aromas framed by powerful minerality. The reds capture the roasted, muscular aromas of Chassagne terroir and display silky texture and balance.
Since 1998, Domaine Bernard-Bonin has been run in impeccable fashion by Nicolas Bernard and Veronique Bonin, a daughter of the well-known Michelot family. Together, they own and cultivate 17.5 acres, including vineyards in Meursault, Meursault 1er Cru and Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru. Each wine expresses a personality derived from its terroir, its character fashioned by the climatic variances of the year. The results carry the characteristics of the finest wines of Meursault: fresh, rich, mineral and vibrant.
In 1940, Raoul Denis, 3rd generation winemaker from the prestigious Hospices de Beaune and his wife decided to buy a small plot of land and continue the family tradition. By 1972, their land had become a part of the Vergelesses appellation. Today, the winery sits in the hillsides of the Picturesque Village of Pernand Vergelesses in Côte De Beaune. The family owned winery works hard to produce wines that are an elegant expression of their region.
Louis Chenu Père & Filles is a family winery in Savigny-les-Beaune, Burgundy. They have been working the vine and producing wine for five generations. The first parcels of vineyard were bought by Louis Chenu in 1914 and are today worked by his great grandson Louis Chenu with the help of his wife and daughters. Juliette and Caroline have been working as a team for a number of years to strengthen and build on the quality of the wines.
Reserved, private and soft-spoken, Bruno Clavelier prefers to let his wines speak for him. And they do, telling a story of great elegance, purity and depth.Bruno succeeded his grandfather at the family’s 16-acre domaine at the entrance of Vosne-Romanée. A pioneer in organic farming before the term was part of everyday vernacular, his grandfather never used chemicals or potassium fertilizers, preferring to use manure from his cattle. Some 95% of the vineyards are planted in traditional Pinot Noir Fin, using an old practice of hand-selecting cuttings from the very best vineyards. The average vine age is 55–70 years, earning the label “Vieilles Vignes” for most of the wines.
Cyril Audoin is part of the next generation from renowned winemaking families, and his energetic, outgoing personality is a refreshing counterpoint to wines that are among the most serious in their appellation. Cyril’s father, Charles, was a visionary in the Burgundy region, as he’d already selected and vinified the best parcels in the 1970s, before Marsannay was even an appellation. He and his wife, Marie-Françoise, an oenologist, began their domaine in Marsannay-la-Cote, in 1972.
A supremely talented vigneron, Arnaud Mortet is routinely praised for his work in the vineyards, even by his peers. Machines are no longer used in any sites; everything is done by hand here, and horses are now employed to plough all 1er and Grand Cru vineyards in order to minimize soil compaction. Arnaud’s wines are reaching new levels, as the winemaker looks back to more traditional viniculture techniques. He keeps the yield very low, uses gentler macerations and a smaller percentage of new oak, and has increased the severity of fruit selection. A perfectionist by nature, and driven by a desire to honor his father’s legacy, Arnaud is making superbly finessed and precise wines, as he continues to evolve this domaine.
A supremely talented vigneron, Arnaud Mortet is routinely praised for his work in the vineyards, even by his peers. Machines are no longer used in any sites; everything is done by hand here, and horses are now employed to plough all 1er and Grand Cru vineyards in order to minimize soil compaction. Arnaud’s wines are reaching new levels, as the winemaker looks back to more traditional viniculture techniques. He keeps the yield very low, uses gentler macerations and a smaller percentage of new oak, and has increased the severity of fruit selection. A perfectionist by nature, and driven by a desire to honor his father’s legacy, Arnaud is making superbly finessed and precise wines, as he continues to evolve this domaine.
Claude Dugat is a tiny domaine in Burgundy with cult status, and the quality to match. The key to quality here is the raw material, from vines which naturally produce small berries through control of vigour. Claude Dugat is not one of the late picking faction in Gevrey because his grapes are properly ripe in good time. Claude Dugat has evidently worked out what he wants to achieve and how he is going to get there. These are unusually rich, concentrated wines, without any feel of over extraction. Though there is a sumptuous outer layer which makes the wines attractive in youth, they are clearly built to age.
Located in the village of Morey St Denis, Domaine Taupenot-Merme was created in 1963 from the marriage of Jean Taupenot and Denise Merme. It is now run by the brother and sister team of Romain and Virginie Taupenot. The Domaine is spread quite widely throughout the Cote, boasting 13 hectares of vines over 20 appellations, striking a good balance between Grand Cru, Premiers Cru and Village wines. Each of the domaine’s wines speak to a sense of place, illustrating typicity punctuated with a signature of impressive aromatics, chiseled tannins and silky texture.
A passionate and successful former musician, Julien Cruchandeau has been in complete tune with his vineyards in the tiny village of Chaux, in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits above Nuits-Saint-Georges, since 2010. From a tiny cellar packed with barrels under his home, Cruchandeau offers wonderful wines in an area of Burgundy once known for high volume and lower quality. His natural practices and hands-off style create true Burgundy Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are aromatic, bright, fresh and pretty, and clearly express a sense of place. Taking a cue from their young, exciting maker, these wines are fun, pleasing and easy to drink.
In 2012, Nicholas and Colleen Harbour quit their jobs and moved to Savigny-les-Beaune to follow their passion for wine. On arrival in Burgundy they attended the wine school in Beaune. Nicholas studied the technical aspects of winemaking and Colleen studied the commercial side of wine. Before graduating they had already established their winery, which they called Maison Harbour.
The Bader-Mimeur family own most of the property known as the Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet with another vintner owning about 2% of the vines. The family can trace its Burgundian roots back to the early 1900s and before that the family had a little wine shop in Paris which is still in operation as an outlet for the winery.
If upon seeing the name "Bzikot" you thought it didn't sound very French, then you'd be right. Sylvain Bzikot's grandfather arrived in the village of Puligny from Poland just before the start of the war with nothing but the clothes he stood up in. Over the generations the family has acquired four hectares of vineyards within the celebrated Puligny-Montrachet and Puligny 1er Cru appellations. Additionally they own another nine hectares, producing wines under the local Bourgogne Blanc and similar appellations.
In terms of vinification Xavier Horiot is looking to be as gentle with his grapes as he can be, focussing on expressing the fruit and the terroir as naturally as possible. All the bunches are destemmed and undergo several days of cold maceration. Xavier prefers remontage (pumping over) to pigeage as he likes to keep the berries whole for as long as possible, thus allowing them to really develop their aromatic profile. New oak is well handled; 20% for the village wines, 30% for the 1ers Crus and 50% for the Grands Crus. There are a lot of old vines on the estate and they bring a natural intensity and concentration (low yields and small berries) to the wines, permitting Xavier to be über-gentle with his techniques. The result is a very impressive début, especially considering the decimation of Pommard due to hail. The wines are fragrant, balanced and charming. Powerful where they should be but also elegant in all the right places.
Named for the 300-year-old Southern Burgundy village in which it is located, Monthelie Douhairet was run by the Douhairet family for many years. In 1989, Madame Douhairet asked renowned winemaker André Porcheret to take charge and added his name to the domaine. André was the cellar manager at the Hospices de Beaune from 1976–1988, before he was hired by Lalou Bize Leroy to make wines at the newly created Domaine Leroy from 1988–1993. Today, together with his granddaughter, Cataldina Lippo, he produces wines that are classic, elegant and true to their terroirs, with impressive textures, tension and bright flavors.
No name enlivens and ignites a discussion of Burgundy as quickly as Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy. She is unrelenting in every way, from her personality to how she runs her business to the quality of the wine in the bottle. With her legendary palate and relentless standards, she unearths some of the most thrilling wines of each vintage, then ages or finishes the wines herself, only releasing them to the market when she knows they are at their peak. Lalou never fails to impress with her unparalleled depth and understanding of the most hidden corners of Burgundy’s terroir.
Buisson-Charles has holdings among the top vineyards of Meursault, as well as Pommard and Volnay; certain parcels of Meursault vines are more than 100 years old. Patrick believes the terroir, not the winemaking, should determine the taste of the wine, and his creations reflect the essence of their appellations.
Former political journalist Blair Pethel makes roughly 2,500 cases of bright, mineral and elegant Burgundy from both his own vineyards and from fruit purchased from a handful of superb growers across the Côte D’Or. We purchased a parcel of wines direct from the Domaine last year and we were very glad we did. The wines were superb and we received plenty of positive feedback from those who secured an allocation. Pethel may be an ‘outsider’ to the region, but he makes wine like a local. These are not brash, over the top wines. On the contrary, they are subtle, refined and pure with superb terroir clarity. Pethel only buys fruit from farmers who allow him to manage the vines himself and grant him complete control of harvest. In Burgundy of all places, respect for the raw material is key.
The Laroze family first obtained vines in Gevrey-Chambertin in 1850, but the current estate did not take shape until 1919 when Suzanne Laroze married Alexandre Drouhin of Chambolle-Musigny. The joining of the two families resulted in the formation of Domaine Druohin-Laroze. Located in the center of Gevrey-Chambertin, the domaine resembles a Bordeaux chateau. A large stone wall surrounds the property, whose only entrance is an imposing iron gate. At the center of the property, is a large, 19th century manor house. Resting in the two story wine cellar beneath the house are labels bearing the names Clos Vougeot, Bonnes Mares, Clos de Beze and Les Musigny. Under the leadership of Bernard Drouhin, the domaine built a solid reputation, but a changing of the guard occurred with his death in 2001. Bernard’s son Philippe took control of the estate and made several changes to further improve the quality of the wines. Yields were cut and more precise temperature control was implemented during the vinification. The efforts quickly paid off and subsequent vintages produced deeper, richer wines.
Edouard Lepesme built his career in marketing for negociants in Burgundy and Champagne. In 2011, he decided to follow his dream and immersed himself in winemaking and viticulture, studying with some of the great names in France and abroad. In 2014, he purchased 33 acres from Andre Donat, whose father was a pioneer vigneron in the area when he planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote and Gamay Noir in the 1960s.
Garnier & Fils uses traditional, environmentally friendly, organic practices; they harvest later than most, ferment with natural yeast and age the wines in very large barrels. Improving every year, this exciting estate is already achieving greatness with itsChablis, which offers a delicate salinity that reflects the vineyard’s unique soil profile. Their wines include a Chablis Village, which is a lovely entry-level bottle, as well as 1er Cru and Grand Cru.
In 1997 Michel George left the local cooperative to become an independent vigneron. Today his sons, David and Jonathan George-Perpiña, make wine from their family estate in the picturesque village of Courgis. The family's vines are planted only in steep Chablis hillsides. The wine is fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. The wines are then left to settle naturally and kept on the lees to enhance complexity. Domaine George makes elegant and classic wines. Tastings take place in the original eighteenth century cellar.
Dominique Gruhier has had a rough ride. Yet he is one of the warmest, most charming, welcoming, well-mannered, and smiling men we know. As his domaine and his (currently) obscure appellation attract customers, he has been able to make the investments and changes that were necessary to let his talent shine. What beautiful wines have emerged! Fine, sexy, juicy, vivacious, saline and chalky. They are some of the greatest values in our entire portfolio for Pinot Noir, but not just any Pinot Noir: Chablisien Pinot Noir.
Fourth generation from a family of vine-growers, Bernard Defaix started with 2 ha in 1959. From this period, a method to protect the vineyard against spring frost was discovered. Thanks to this, the vine-growers could be sure to have a minimum of harvest every year and so they began to develop stable trade markets.
The Moutard-Diligent family has been making wine in the village of Buxeuil since the 17th century. Their specialty is well-aged bubbly made primarily from Pinot Noir grown in Champagne's southern-most region of Côtes des Bars. Domaine Moutard-Diligent also has 60-acres in the villages of Epineuil and Tonnerois, where they also make some amazing Bourgogne Rouge. Though this northern outpost of Burgundy is known more for its white wines, juicy Pinot Noir flourishes just ten miles north-east of Chablis.
Stéphane Coquillette is a fourth-generation winemaker in Champagne. His father, Christian, has been running the Saint Chamant Champagne house since 1950, and he lovingly sent his son out to start his own estate when Stéphane was 25. Though mentored by his father, Stéphane developed a very different style of expression at his own house, creating leaner, drier Champagnes. Meticulously committed to organic practices, Stéphane avoids herbicides at all costs. Everything is done by hand, including trellising and pruning, which helps avoid disease and allows for a healthy crop.
In 2000, when his family’s plots were being divided, Xavier opted for a modest collection of the highest quality 1er and Grand Cru vineyards with a goal of producing only the most exquisite, small-production Champagnes. Champagne Gonet-Médeville’s Pinot Noir (Bisseuil and Ambonnay) and Chardonnay (Mesnil-Sur-Oger) are farmed organically, and each parcel is vinified separately to emphasize its individual terroir. There is no malolactic fermentation, and dosage is minute. Julie and Xavier’s resulting Champagnes are very elegant, delicate, festive and easy to drink.
At the heart of the Bar coast, Vincent Couche, passionate and very demanding winemaker, cultivates 13 hectares of biodynamic vineyards. Constantly listening to nature, Vincent carefully studies the needs of his vine and infuses energy and well-being with the help of biodynamic treatments.
Champagne Saint Chamant was established in 1930 by Pierre and Hélène Coquillette. Their son, Christian, took over the estate in 1950. Located in Épernay, the house’s unsigned, unassuming exterior in no way hints at its labyrinthine cellar, built in the early 19th century, which is a mile long—and lined with hundreds of thousands of carefully aging Champagne bottles. Charmingly mustached and quite dapper, octogenarian Christian specializes primarily in Blanc de Blancs with more than 28 acres of Chardonnay vineyards in Grand Cru Chouilly. The house also makes a small amount of rosé, from 92% Chardonnay and 8% Pinot Meunier from Épernay.
A close-knit family, two brothers sharing a common vision and then passing on their values to the next generation, all this and more makes up the story of Champagne Huré-Fréres: started just over 50 years ago and still very much a family business. Today Raoul Huré and his two sons, Francois and Pierre invite you to discover their maison at Ludes in the Montagne de Reims.
The Moutard-Diligent family can trace their history of viticulture as far back as 1642, but it was not until the 1920s that they began producing champagne under their own name. Today, under the stewardship of François, Veronique, and Agnes Moutard, the estate consists of 22.5 hectares of vines in the Côte des Bar region of southern Champagne.
Jean and Chantal Berthet-Bondet came to the village of Château-Chalon in Jura after studying agronomy in Lyon. Their love of the land quickly found them harvesting their first vintage in 1985 with an old barn housing the vats, and the wines resting in the 16th century cellar under the house. The couple is meticulous, knowledgeable and passionate, and Berthet-Bondet produces a rather interesting array of white wines that truly convey their sense of place.
A passionate group of supporters cleared the vineyard in 1998 and began piecing the steep terraces back together to create Domaine des Ardoisieres. Since 2005, Champagne native Brice Omont has taken over the winemaking and is now considered one of the most exciting producers in France. For the very first time, Brice’s wines are being imported to the United States. The domaine’s 17 acres of vineyards are planted on steep, rocky slopes high above the town of Freterive.
Domaine les 4 Vents, formerly Le Domaine de Lucie is the domaine of Lucie Fourel and her sister, Nancy Cellier. In 2015, Lucie and Nancy inherited the remaining 6.5 hectares from their parents, bringing the domain to its current size of 10 hectares. Before returning to the family estate, Lucie spent a few years as an apprentice with different wineries in the Rhone Valley during which time she developed her philosophy and practices for organic and bio-dynamic farming as well as natural vinification. Domaine Les 4 Vents has both organic and bio-dynamic certifications.
An exacting man with an eye for detail and a heart bent on discovery, Saint-Germain and his wines from Domaine Les Aurelles are firmly rooted in the resurgence of the great terroir of the Languedoc. Recognizing that it takes many years to become an overnight success, Saint-Germain has taken a patient path with the development of his wines. With an acute understanding of the region, he has embraced the Southern character of wine. With older vines and traditional grapes, Saint-Germain crafts darker, aromatic reds and one white of exceptional depth, length and freshness. The wines of the domaine are singular within the region due to their elegance and finesse.
Jean-Sébastien Marionnet makes incredible wines at his domaine and is now making this vibrant Gamay from sourced fruit from the Touraine. The fruit was hand-harvested and the liveliness of this red wine can be attributed to the carbonic maceration that was used to ferment this wine. Unoaked and a delightful red to make your house wine.
Noël Bulliat and his son Loïc run this family estate that covers 27 ha in 8 different appelations in the heart of the Beaujolais region. It all started in 1978 when Noël bought 4 ha of Beaujolais Villages straight after having graduated from viticultural school. Today, the estate produces around 70 000 bottles per year.
Château de Chamilly stands in the heart of a green valley situated to the north of the Côte Chalonnaise, 20 minutes south of Beaune. It was built during the 17th century by Noël Bouton (lieutenant general of the armies of King Louis XIV, Governor of Strasbourg and Marquis of Chamilly), on the foundations of a 14th century fortified farm.
Paying full respect to tradition, Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is the alchemy of a small, historic domaine from the renowned wine village of Volnay. Comprised exclusively of a handful of exceptional Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, including our namesake monopole, our top priority at DCC is to facilitate the purest expression possible of each parcel's terroir.
Adrien Berlioz took over the little family estate called “Cellier des Cray” at the beginning of 2006 and made it one of the most prestigious domaines of Chignin. The Domaine encompasses about 4.5 hectares of vineyards organically farmed, located in a "lieu dit" called "Les Viviers" near Chignin, a small village between Albertville and Chambéry, at about 390 meters above sea level.
In 2010 Father John was started with the idea that each wine should be true to its provenance. That is to say, each vineyard should express its own distinct character. Our wines are able to fully express their specific site and local microclimates, yet are distinctive in their structural balances and individual flavors. All of our vineyard sites have strong Pacific coast influences. Owner Nicholas Maloney started Father John during his stay in France which included work in Haute Savoie, Margaux, Nuits-saint-Georges, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand Vergelesses and Chablis. His experiences in France influenced his philosophy of creating wines that age gracefully and are suited to accompany fine cuisine.
The Domaine de Fondrèche estate is situated at the foot of Mont Ventoux, the famous mountain in the Vaucluse department of the South of France, and covers a surface area of 38 hectares. For over twenty years the vineyard has been tended using natural methods to create a harmony between the vines, the earth, and the surrounding environment, and to produce wines that reflect the local terroir.
The Domaine du Joncier is a vineyard of 32 hectares, passed from father to daughter. It is located 12 km from Avignon, on the right side of the river Rhone on the label LIRAC, Côtes du Rhône. Currently, it is run by Marina Roussel.The Domaine du Joncier is certified organic agriculture (AB) since 2008 and certified Demeter (Bio- dynamic agriculture) since 2010. Production is limited, between 12 and 28 hectoliters per hectare (as 40 hl / ha is permitted) which allows this vineyard to have concentrated and complex wines. The richness of the fruit is evident in the beautiful intensity the wines obtained.
Situated as it is at Wintzenheim, near Colmar, the Domain has the benefit of an exceptional micro-climate and one of the lowest annual rainfall in the whole of France. The Domain extends to some 28 hectares (28% Riesling, 24% Pinot Blanc & Auxerrois, 21% Pinot Gris, 19% Gewurztraminer and 10% for the Sylvaner, Muscat & Pinot Noir) and has always been cultivated with respect for nature.
Le Père Jules is located in Pays d’Auge, the heart of the Normandy region. In 1919, Jules Desfrieches, just back from the First World War, pressed and sold his first bottle of cider. In 1949, Léon Desfrieches took over his father and renamed the Cidrerie...Le Père Jules. Léon's son, Thierry, joined the family business in 1976. Guillaume, his son, in 2002. Nowadays, Guillaume runs the cidrerie and manages the cidrification process. Le Père Jules works only with apples and pears from the estate. Out of 250 acres, 100 are planted with apple trees and 25 with pear trees.
Clos de Mez is a small estate producing from just 5 hectares of vines, those in Fleurie are located not far from the chapel of La Madone in Fleurie, which is visible from the front courtyard looking north up the very steep hill. Owned and run by Marie-Élodie Zighera-Confuron, who inherited these beautiful old vineyards from her grand-mother which had been passed down through the family for generations and where she had spent time growing up as a child. Marie-Elodie made her first vintage in 2006 after studying viticulture and oenology in Dijon and Montpellier and working for experience at Chateau de la Tour in Clos Vougeot among other places.
The Regnard family got its first vines right after the French Revolution in 1791. Today, the estate covers 83 hectares with both Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Located in the heart of the Loire Valley, in the middle of the Châteaux de la Loire, Domaine de la Petite Roche enjoys a diversity of terroirs from schists to limestone and sand. This allow the domain to produce a range wines with finesse and character, for any occasion.
A family owned estate since 1950, Domaine Ronce is located in the little known southern regions of the Jura, Sud Revermont. The domain was established by George Mazier who planted exclusively Chardonnay on his 1 hectare plot. Since then, his son, Michel has increased the holdings of the estate to 6 hectares while planting the red grapes Trousseau, Poulsard, and Pinot Noir along with the white grape Savignin. At present, their small portion of Jura, in the town of Orbagna, flies under the radar. Indeed, although the terroir is well suited to grape growing, dairy farming continues to be a profitable business in the region, inhibiting the growth of new vineyards.
This family owned estate has been harvesting in the Right Bank for five generations. 100% Merlot, this hedonistic red is full-bodied, yet with Bordeaux typicity, with notes of cigar box, tobacco, and leather.
Domaine Sauvète is the work of four generations of Sauvètes. Jérôme’s Great-Grandfather Georges Sauvète planted the first vines in 1905. Roland and then Michael, the next two generations, went on to enlarge the vineyards in 1930 and 1975. Great placement, rich diverse soils and the wise choice to farm organically (Ecocert certified) give their vineyards all they need to produce sumptuous wine. Today, the single goal of the family, and the estate is to produce authentic wines, those that express the subtleties of their terroir most completely.
In a tiny appellation — fewer than 500 acres planted in vines — between Jura and Savoie lives the embodiment of a great success story. Marcel Perinet has mastered controlling the temperature during fermentation and winemaking, allowing him to produce one the purest examples of Cerdon du Bugey that we have ever tasted. This makes Domaine de la Dentelle one of the most exciting and delicious wines we have found in quite some time.
This dream is finally being realized 30 years later by Olivier in his grandfather’s honor. With a great love for this terroir and an equal emphasis on organic and biodynamic farming. It’s about more than making Sancerre, it’s about speaking to the place it comes from - and more specifically - the soil that the grapes are grown in.
After spending 12 years working as cellar master at Alphonse Mellot in Sancerre, Jean-Philippe Agisson joined the team at the legendary Domaine Didier Dagueneau as the lead wine maker in 2018, a position he holds today. The farming is organic with some biodynamic practices applied and the wine making is straight forward employing hand harvest, gentle pressing, and patient elevage in neutral barrels.
Since 1998, the vineyard has been cultivated and certified by Ecocert in organic farming and since 2010 in biodynamic farming by Biodyvin. Knowing how to adapt to a changing environment requires constant questioning. The planting of forgotten grape varieties such as pineau d’aunis, the incorporation of trees into the cultivation of the vine (agroforestry) or the gradual abandonment of all modern oenology are avenues that I have followed for more than 20 years.
The origins of Château de Fosse-Sèche go back to the Middle Ages, when Benedictine monks planted vines there for the first time. In 1998, the Keller-Pire family fell in love with this exceptional place and today, Adrien and Guillaume, the second generation, have taken over the reins. In the heart of the 45 ha area, 17 ha of vines are planted on Jurassic soil, a real geological curiosity that gives the Fosse-Sèche wines such a distinctive character. While the Saumur vineyard is planted almost exclusively on limestone soils, the Fosse-Sèche soil is made up of flint and iron oxide stones.
The domaine is located in Châtillon d’Azergues in Rhône region. Since 1464, this family of winegrowers has been cultivating their vines using techniques that respect the environment and the soil. One of the pioneers of organic agriculture (BIO) in Beaujolais, their wines have been certified since 2006. The grapes are exclusively hand harvested. The fermentation takes place naturally in small or large oak barrels. They use only natural yeasts. Their wine philosophy’s production is to produce terroir wines while respecting nature.
Domaine Jean Fournier dates back to the reign of Louis XIII in the early 17th century, making it one of the oldest properties in Marsannay. Today the Domaine’s 16 hectares are managed by the dynamic young Laurent Fournier, son of Jean, who crafts wines with integrity in a non-interventionist style. He has converted the vineyards to organic agriculture and has been Ecocert certified since 2008. Old vines can be found throughout his vineyards, contributing to the immense purity and finesse Fournier’s wines are known for.
The François family owns four hectares in Côte-Rôtie. Only the best and most expressive grapes are used to make their Côte-Rôtie. The vineyards are very steep, as they usually are in this area, and grapes can only be harvested by hand. The soil, mainly composed of mica-schist, is rich in minerals and has proven a good base for the 30-year-old vines of Syrah and Viognier.
Chateau Lafleur is a tiny 4.5 hectare estate in Bordeaux's Right Bank and is located close to Chateau Petrus in the Pomerol wine region, France. Lafleur is owned and run by Sylvie and Jacques Guinaudeau, and they produce wines of exceptional quality. The wines are typically a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and sometimes include Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are known for their incredible aging potential.
Vincent worked for years at Domaine Lecheneault and struck out on his own in just 2006. His holding are tiny, a common problem for new producers in Burgundy, and he produces maybe 10,000 bottles between half a dozen appellations. All the vines are certified organic, there are no new barrels in the cellar and the sulfur additions are extremely low.