The Masterpiece Winery of Burgundy in Bouzeron
Founded in 1971, Domaine de VILLAINE is the winery of Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of the prestigious Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) in Burgundy. Villaine decided, at his father’s suggestion, to own his own domaine and learn to make and manage wine. He chose the village of Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise region, which at the time was unknown and had no AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) certification.
Villaine began making his own wines by focusing on the terroir of the region and its potential compatibility with the Aligoté grape. As a result, “Bourgogne Aligoté de Bouzeron” was certified as an AOC in 1979, and in 1997, “Bouzeron” was approved as the only AOC for the Aligoté grape. (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made in the same area become the regional name AOC Burgundy Côte Chalonnaise). This has made Domaine de VILLAINE a highly acclaimed winery that has made Aligoté known around the world.
The philosophy of Domaine de VILLAINE is “authentically convey the unique character of the grapes and the terroir.” The 10 hectares of vineyards are located on a sunny slope in the northernmost part of the village of Bouzeron. Villaine was an early practitioner of organic viticulture (biodynamics) and was certified by Qualité France (“Le Guillaumet” 92049 Paris La Défense Cedex) in 1986. They use no pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and ferment their wines with natural yeasts to maximize the flavors of the grapes themselves.
During the winemaking process, all the grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with natural yeasts after a strict selection process. For the maturation, they use large oak barrels, oak barrels, and stainless steel tanks, with the use of oak barrels being kept to a minimum. This careful attention to detail results in a superb wine with ripe fruit aromas and rich fruit flavors.
Domaine de VILLAINE is currently run primarily by Pierre de Benoist, nephew of Aubert de Villaine, and has been released as Domaine de VILLAINE from Domaine A. et P de VILLAINE since the 2015 vintage. Pierre continues to make wine while keeping the philosophy of the domaine in mind. He is committed to the possibilities of the Aligote grape and to improving its quality. Villaine’s Bouzeron Aligoté is made from a clone called “Aligoté Doré,” which has a high sugar content and a gorgeous aroma, and boasts a noble quality not found in other producers. Through his efforts, Bouzeron was recognized as the only AOC for the Aligoté grape in 1997 and has been highly praised by the French wine review magazine “The Fine Wine Reviews”.
Villaine’s winery continues to pursue quality in keeping with his philosophy and traditions. Domaine de VILLAINE continues to introduce new charms to Burgundy wines through its unique winemaking style, while using its knowledge and experience as a co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC). Villaine and his winery demonstrate the diversity and richness of Burgundy wines by promoting the character and charm of the Aligoté grape to the world. (Mr.Bacchus)
DOMAINE DE VILLAINE Bourgogne Rouge
Due to low harvest quantities caused by a severe frost in April 2021, Domaine de Villaine made the wise decision to blend all the Burgundy red plots into a single cuvée. The typical flavors of “La Digoine” and “La Fortune” are blended with the juiciness of generic Burgundy (Burgundy Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey-les-Montots, Santenay Rouge 1er Cru Passetemps). The result of this 2021 is an outstanding quantity/quality equation and impressive value for money! 18-24 months aging, with 10 years of aging potential.
Despite the terrible 2021 vintage, which was plagued by frost in a typically Burgundian red wine parcel, Domaine de Villaine is producing a very pleasurable Pinot. The nose is fresh and becomes more fruity with a few turns of the glass. On the palate, you will find a balance of fresh fruit, whole clusters of fruit that bring a slightly sappy touch to the fruit, and delicate, fresh, ripe red fruit. The gastronomy and elegance of “La Fortune” and “La Digoine”, the concentration of “Les Montots” and the depth of “Passetemps”
by Pierre de Benoist
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