Domaine de Villaine

A Côte Chalonnaise estate

Domaine de Villaine's 24 hectares of vines are located in Bouzeron, the first village of the Côte Chalonnaise south of Beaune, between Santenay in the Côte d'or and Rully or Mercurey in the Côte Chalonnaise.

Positioned on hillsides between 270 and 350 meters above sea level, the vineyards benefit from lean soils with a high limestone content. These soils ensure that yields are kept under control, and the warm micro-climate that hovers over the estate ensures that the grapes ripen well. The Bouzeron appellation benefits from a fairly restricted geographical area, making it a rather confidential appellation in Burgundy.

Three grape varieties are grown on this exceptional terroir: golden Aligoté, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Aligoté is grown on the sun-drenched limestone slopes of the Bouzeron valley, producing dry, fruity, lively whites without losing their roundness. Chardonnay grows on low-lying hillsides facing south and southeast, on slightly clayey soils covered with ferruginous oolites (mineral structures formed in a marine environment) and resting on limestone subsoils. Like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir is grown at mid-slope, facing south-southeast. The soils are a mixture of limestone, including oolitic limestone, gravel and calcareous sand.

Philosophy

The men and women of Domaine de Villaine firmly believe that the birth of great wines depends on harvesting healthy, high-ripeness grapes.

Since 1986, the estate has been run according to the principles of organic farming, and was finally certified by Qualité France in 1997. Naturally, no pesticides or herbicides are used, in order to preserve the natural balance. Manuring (improving the soil with manure) is limited to natural compost.

Coupled with numerous other environmentally-friendly practices, these methods enable us to achieve yields 20% lower than those authorized by regulations.

Harvesting is manual, sorting is rigorous and cellar work is traditional to produce wines that are ever more authentic and respectful of the terroir.

The wines

Cuvée Rully Premier Cru Grésigny has a nose of white-fleshed fruit and white flowers, with a touch of minerality that brings a certain elegance and greediness to the wine. The palate is well-balanced, with generosity, fresh minerality and concentrated fruit. The finish is full and tasty.

Cuvée Rully Premier Cru "les Margotés" offers a nose of white-fleshed fruit blending quince, peach, fresh almond... as well as mineral and chalky aromas linked to the chalky and marly rock. On the palate, deep, full-bodied flavors come together in harmony for a pure, mineral, complex finish.