Bouchard Père & Fils

A nine-generation history at Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils

The story of Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils began nine generations ago. The winery was founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, then a draper. The first vineyards were located around Volnay on the Côte de Beaune. During the French Revolution, when the property of the nobility and the clergy was confiscated, members of the Bouchard family were able to expand their family estate and acquire new plots. It was during this same period that they purchased the "Beaune Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus", whose appellation remains emblematic.

In 1820, Bernard Bouchard became the owner of Château de Beaune, a former royal fortress built in the 15th century by Louis XI. The estate's production underwent an energetic revival, and wine exports enjoyed great success around 1890. The company's expansion continued into the 20th century. In 1995, Champagne Henriot acquired the Bouchard Père et Fils estate, with the intention of continuing the remarkable work of its first owners. The Bouchard estate is currently run by Christophe Bouchard, in collaboration with cellar master Philippe Prost.

Bouchard Père et Fils: a noble terroir and a magnificent vineyard in Burgundy

With 130 hectares and 450 parcels of vines, Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils boasts a vast vineyard where noble grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Gamay flourish. The vineyards extend over some 48 km: such diversity calls for constant monitoring by oenologists to ensure harmonious vine growth and a well-balanced blend of grape varieties. Thanks to the application of integrated viticulture, the estate was awarded the "Haute Valeur Environnementale" label in 2015. The grape varieties grown at Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils can be found in many of the appellations that are the pride of the Côte de Beaune and surrounding area, including Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin and Clos-de-Bèze.

The Château de Beaune still features four of its five original towers. Part of its ramparts have been preserved, and the whole complex was listed as a historic monument in 1937. The underground cellars are also one of the estate's greatest assets: they run right through the entire property, providing excellent storage space for the estate's grands crus. In fact, the cellars are buried up to 10 m deep, allowing the old bottles to flourish serenely in a natural atmosphere. The cellars also house a priceless collection of several hundred bottles from the greatest vintages of the 19th century. The oldest reference of this magnificent heritage is a Meursault Charmes 1846, which displays a superb and noble character.

Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils: seductive wines full of potential

Today, Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils wines are made at the Saint-Vincent winery in Savigny-lès-Beaune. More than 100 crus are carefully vinified in the winery, located 10 m underground. Under the care of certified oenologists, the wine is aged in wooden barrels, before finally reaching maturity. The estate's bottles are of great finesse in both aroma and taste. Most of these bottles are made to keep, and age admirably.

Among the best references to taste without delay or to keep, is Le Corton Grand Cru Domaine 2016, an excellent red all depth and acidity, with weighty tannins. The 2018 Meursault Les Clous Domaine is a white wine that is both tangy and beautifully textured. It is as fine as it is graceful, and has good ageing potential.