Domaine De Villaine

Location: Bouzeron, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy
Surface area: 29.6 hectares
Viticulture: Certified organic since 1997, green harvesting, balanced yields
Vinification: Hand-harvested, rigorously sorted, indigenous yeasts, aged in foudres, oak barrels and vats for whites, exclusive vinification in barrels for reds, moderate use of new barrels
Winemaker: Pierre de Benoist
Main appellations: Bouzeron, Rully 1er Cru Montpalais, Rully 1er Cru Les Margotés, Rully 1er Cru Rabourcé, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise La Fortune, Rully 1er Cru Les Champs Cloux red

The commune of Bouzeron, in the north of the Côte Chalonnaise, has been home to one of the appellation’s leading estates since the early 1970s: Domaine A. et P. de Villaine. Aligoté, the king grape variety of the Bouzeron appellation, takes on all its nobility at the domaine.
Renowned for its development, the domaine also produces magnificent wines in the Rully, Saint Aubin, Mercurey and Santenay appellations.

Nestled on the slopes at an altitude of between 270 and 350 meters, Aligoté is the pride and joy of the Bouzeron appellation, for those who know how to listen to it and pamper it. From the outset, Domaine A. et P. de Villaine has done its utmost to sublimate this grape variety and allow it to express itself to the full-on chalky soils and a warm microclimate, enabling optimal ripening of the grapes. The Bouzeron produced by the domaine is made from the “Aligoté doré” variety, as opposed to the “Aligoté vert”. This variety produces smaller yields than its colleague. It reveals more elegant aromatic notes and less acidity. Fine and pure, it also has a roundness characteristic of its terroir. It is acclaimed by wine lovers the world over.
The quality of the wines produced at the domaine is the result of an approach initiated from the outset by Mr. Aubert de Villaine: harvest healthy grapes at high ripeness. The estate naturally opted for organic farming and obtained Qualité France certification in 1997. When Pierre de Benoist, Mr. de Villaine’s nephew, took over the estate in 2001, he continued the work he had started and did everything in his power to further improve it. With yields kept under control and always 20% below the appellation’s maximum thresholds, the grapes are wonderfully concentrated. The wines made from Aligoté and Chardonnay bear witness to these efforts, revealing their finesse, elegance and depth. The whole range is breathtaking.