Bouzeron, Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, France
Organic wine innovators of excellence.
Known for their iconic and delicious Bouzeron Aligoté, Aubert de Villaine purchased the original eight hectares of this domaine in 1971, the same year he took over management of Domaine de la Romanée Conti. Aubert's nephew Pierre de Benoist has been the winemaker since 2000. The quality of the Aligoté grape in Bouzeron was the attraction and Pierre has not only developed his own passion for the variety but has started a nursery to maintain the homogenous expression of the grape in the Bouzeron terroir. Since then the vineyard holdings have expanded to 21 hectares of which 10 are planted in Aligote. Located in Bouzeron, nestled in the Côte Chalonnaise region between Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay to the north and Rully and Mercurey to the south.
Planted with vines by the monks of Cluny in the Middle Ages, this small, sunny valley has a rich and lengthy tradition of producing quality wines which reflect their exceptional terroir. Here, vines are grown exclusively on the slopes, the nutrient-poor, limestone-rich soil allows precise yield control, while a warm microclimate favours ripening of the grapes.
The domaine today makes twelve crus of which there are five red and seven white. The reds come from the Côte Chalonnaise; Rully, Mercurey and Santenay. The whites in addition to Bouzeron come from the Côte Chalonnaise; Rully and more recently Saint-Aubin.
The New Zealand agency is available exclusively through Peter Maude Fine Wines.