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Domaine Hubert Lamy:
From red to white in 40 years
If you ask Olivier Lamy at Domaine Hubert Lamy in Saint-Aubin not much has happened the last few centuries.
– When it comes to making wine we haven't really invented anything, he says.
Still, there are quite a few things today at the domaine that are different from what they were when Olivier arrived in the 1990's. Production is now 80 per cent white and 20 per cent red. Four decades ago it was the other way around. Today the regional appellations are almost gone and there is an experiment with high density planting – 30 000 vines per hectare – going on in the Saint-Aubin premier cru Derrière Chez Edouard.
Domaine Seguin-Manuel:
Terroir interpretation
Thibaut Marion has been running Domaine Seguin-Manuel since 2004. When it comes to winemaking he supports a hands-off approach, with no chaptalization and relatively short maceration.
– If you try to make a wine with a robust structure you lose something else. Part of the magic of the pinot noir is all the subtleties of the aromas. That is why I have chosen to make the kind of wines I do, wines that are not hidden behind too much extraction, too much oak or too much alcohol.
Domaine Olivier:
The home of white Santenay
Welcome to the home of white Santenay. In an appellation mainly known for its reds Domaine Olivier in Santenay has a history of focusing on the whites. About one fifth of all white Santenay produced each year comes from these cellars.
– We have always been the largest producer of white Santenay, says Antoine Olivier at Domaine Olivier. Depending on the vintage we produce between 40 000 and 45 000 bottles of white Santenay, both premier cru and village level.
There are two reasons why this happened - Dr Lavalle and the wine made for private use in the 1970's.
Continue – read the whole interview with Antoine Olivier >>>
Domaine Xavier Durand:
The X Factor
Xavier Durand began his winemaking career in style. His first vintage after taking on the family domaine in Comblanchien was the highly acclaimed 2009. He got rid of all rented vines, concentrating on the seven hectares of owned vines.
– The domaine dates back to my grandfather Alexis, says Xavier Durand. He bought the vines in the Côte de Nuits-Villages, the Bourgogne and the Ladoix appellations. Then my father René added the Corton in 1984 and the Aloxe-Corton in 1985.
Domaine Michel Lafarge:
Balance and harmony
– Volnay, to me it is about balance. There is always a lot of balance and harmony in the wines. You have the elegance, the finesse, the distinction, the power, the length and the silky tannins.
Frédéric Lafarge has a firm grip on Volnay. Domaine Michel Lafarge has been in the village since early 20th century and has established itself as one of the top names of Burgundy. The twelve hectares are equally divided between premier crus, village and regionals – one third of each.
Continue – read the whole interview with Frédéric Lafarge >>>
Domaine Stéphane Aladame:
One colour, one appellation
Welcome to the white world of Stéphane Aladame. For the past two decades he has specialised in one single thing – Montagny premier cru.
– In short, Montagny could be summed up like this - we only have one colour, white. There is a large number of premier crus and the appellation is dominated by the local cooperative, which accounts for three quarters of the production, he says.
Continue – read the whole interview with Stéphane Aladame >>>
Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard:
11 Chassagne premier crus
Burgundy is well-known for a large number of appellations and climats. But people seem to like the complexity. A generation ago, at Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard in Chassagne-Montrachet, what used to be one single cuvée is now four. Previously the four Chassagne-Montrachet premier crus Les Chenevottes, Les Champs Gain, Maltroie and Blanchots-Dessus all went in to the same cuvée. Today they are all bottled separately.
– Domaine Michelot in Meursault has an extensive range of village wines. Already 20 years ago he was harvesting and vinifying all his village parcels separately. I thought if he's doing that it's a crime not to do the same with our premier crus, says Caroline Lestimé at Domaine Jean-Noël Gagnard.
Continue – read the whole interview with Caroline Lestimé >>>
Domaine Jean-Luc Houblin:
Building up steam
When Jean-Luc Houblin first began his career as a winegrower the vines around his village only covered a hectare and a half. Today, close to a quarter of a century later, the area under vines in Migé has increased by well over 2000 per cent.
– In 1988 Migé didn't have many vines at all, says Jean-Luc Houblin. Today there are 35 hectares. Five of these are vines still too young for wine production.
Continue – read the whole interview with Jean-Luc Houblin >>>
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé:
Meet the family
Meet the family, the Chambolle family. At Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé in Chambolle-Musigny the focus is solely on the wines of the village, well-known names such as Les Amoureuses, Bonnes Mares and Musigny.
– Musigny is the boss, the patriarch, explains winemaker François Millet. Les Amoureuses is the wife, she's the first lady of the village. You have the Chambolle-Musigny premier cru, which is the future boss; not ready today, too young. The village level Chambolle-Musigny is the child of the family. Bonnes Mares is different; it's not the same blood. It's an old uncle, by marriage, from Sweden.
Continue – read the whole interview with François Millet and Eric Bourgogne >>>
Domaine Galeyrand:
From cheese to wine
It was not planned this way. Jérôme Galeyrand, a cheese wholesaler from the Mayenne in northwest France, arrived at Domaine Alain Burguet in Gevrey-Chambertin and soon after that decided to go for a career change. After wine school in Beaune he quickly established himself as a up and coming producer.
– In January 2002 I began looking for vines to take on. My first parcel was Les Retraits in Comblanchien, appellation Côte de Nuits-Villages. I would use the weekends to work there with my friends from wine school, says Jérôme Galeyrand.
Continue – read the whole interview with Jérôme Galeyrand >>>
Domaine George:
Explosive Chablis
Beauregards, the Chablis premier cru. Today it's part of the vineyards owned by Domaine George, but during the Second World War it was the Germans' shooting range.
– My father bought our Beauregards in 1988 and replanted it in 1989, says David George-Perpiña. Before that there hadn't been much wine-growing there for 50 years. He put together our parcel from acquisitions from five different owners. When he began working in Beauregards he would find many shells. But being a typical Burgundian my father would just pick them up and throw them away.
Continue – read the whole interview with David George-Perpiña >>>