Etienne Boileau created the Domaine du Chardonnay in 1987 with his two associates, William Nahan and Christian Simon. Together, they helped built the strong Domaine that it is today, making great internationally renowned Chablis. Towards the end of 2018, it is not without emotion that they decided that it was time to retire and hand over their Domaine to Arnaud Nahan and Thomas Labille. Arnaud, William’s son, grew up close to the Domaine and worked until then with the goal of taking over the family business. Thomas Labille joins him as an experienced cellar master, having worked with some big names in Chablis. The estate currently farms 35 hectares in the Petit Chablis, Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru appellations. The estate is committed to the environment and is certified Vegan.
Burgundy
Domaine Michelot
Domaine Michelot has been in the Michelot family for six generations and, having increased in size over the years, now comprises more than 19 hectares which include a number of prestigious 1er cru wines. The domaine achieved widespread recognition in the 60s under the direction of the charismatic Bernard Michelot and this spirit and tradition flourishes and grows in the hands of the current generation. The Meursault vineyards are made up of a number of “terroirs” – parcels of land with individual characteristics of soil, drainage and orientation – and their distinct personalities yield a diverse range of wines. They appeal to all, from private individuals to restaurateurs, who enjoy sharing the uplifting pleasures of good wine.
The Domaine keeps anti-malady treatments of the vines to a strict minimum, preferring to keep the land itself healthy through a carefully scheduled program of ploughing. They allow grass to grow in a part of each vineyard and mow it regularly. The grass deprives the vines of easily accessible water and forces the root system deep into the ground. This minimizes the need for pesticides and concentrates the specific qualities that each terroir brings to its wine.
ROMY
Domaine Romy is a property of 20 hectares in the “Pierres Dorées” area in the south of Beaujolais.
Dominique and his son Nicolas Romy are 10th generation winemakers tied to the land. They cultivate their vines in a natural manner, strictly adhering to Terra Vitis requirements – their main objective is to maintain the biological balance of the vines and soil with as little human intervention as possible. Old-fashioned agriculture is king at Domaine Romy, with grass growing between the vines and special attention dedicated to green harvesting in order to lower the yields and maintain the high quality of the grapes.
CHALETP
Located on a hillside overlooking the village of Pouilly, Domaine du Chalet Pouilly has been family owned and operated since 1850, passing down expertise and passion from one generation to another. The 8.5 hectares are shared between Pouilly Fuissé (5 hectares), Saint-Véran (3 hectares) and Mâcon-Solutré planted in 2009 (0.5 hectares). The estate practices sustainable wine-growing methods and some plots are grown according to the organic standards.
Today, Chalet Pouilly is run by Marie-Eve Léger, who joined the domain in 2009 after completing her degree, and her parents Agnès and Bernard. They practice traditional wine-growing methods, respecting the terroir, and their philosophy is to allow nature to express itself through the vinification process in order to create rich-flavored wines with a rustic touch. Their vines are old, and their soil rich and calcareous.
“Domaine du Chalet Pouilly is a small grower, but small can be beautiful. Father and daughter team of Bernard and Marie-Eve Leger are in charge here, the winery itself founded way back in 1850 on top of the hill overlooking the village of Solutre-Pouilly. In case you were wondering, it is named after the slatted facade of the winery that lends it the appearance of a chalet. Theirs is a small portfolio of wines, though Marie-Eve told me that it will be joined by a 0.4-hectare plot of Macon-Solutre from 2012. The wines are generally aged in used demi-muids except the St. Veran that sees no oak contact. I must confess, being unfamiliar with this name I had no expectations, but I adored these succinctly crafted, mineral-driven wines that you just want to elope with.”
– Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate #208, August 2013
Daniel Rion
The Rion family history goes back five generations to 1896 in Premeaux and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The Domaine was established in 1955 by Daniel Rion with a mere 2 ha of vines, selling the majority of his wine to negociants until the 1978 vintage. Daniel’s sons Patrice (who departed in 2000), Christophe, Olivier and eventually his daughter Pascale would join him at the winery. As their vineyard holdings grew, Domaine Rion became a standard bearer of old-school vin de gard Burgundy. As Clive Coates puts it: “This is an important domaine. Quality is high and dependable and if I find a ‘house style’ in the wines, a family resemblance, I don’t quibble too much because the wines are clean and fruity and the tannins have become increasingly sophisticated over the years.” Today Jean-Charles, son of Olivier and grandson of Daniel runs the estate. They now manage 6 ha across Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and the Grand Crus of Clos Vougeot and Échezeaux. The winemaking remains traditional.
Viticulture & Winemaking
Attentive care throughout the year keeps him in his vines and cellar. The harvest is limited to small yields. The grapes are harvested manually followed by rigorous sorting, favoring only the healthiest berries. The vinification takes place in open stainless-steel vats at carefully controlled temperatures throughout the alcoholic fermentation process. Maceration lasts on average from fifteen days to three weeks depending on the appellations and the quality of the vintage. The aging takes place quietly between twelve and eighteen months in oak barrels.