Boris Champy

History of Domaine Boris Champy

The history of the estate begins in 1984, when Didier Montchovet, the son of a winegrower from Nantoux, founded his own wine-growing estate in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. From the outset, he chose the bold path of organic farming and biodynamics, establishing himself as a pioneer in a region that was still largely conventional. Over thirty-five years, he patiently built up a collection of plots with a strong identity, in perfect harmony with the natural ecosystem of Nantoux.

In 2019, Boris Champy took over the entire estate — vineyard, cellar and stocks — and renamed the property Domaine Boris Champy. Originally from Champagne and holding a degree in oenology, Boris Champy has had an exceptional international career: ten years spent in Napa Valley in California, technical director of the prestigious Maison Louis Latour, estate manager and oenologist at the renowned Clos des Lambrays in the Côte de Nuits. A triathlete, swimmer in San Francisco Bay, pilgrim of the Camino de Santiago and founder of an environmental protection association, he brings to the estate a fervent and ambitious agroecological vision, convinced of the bright future of the Hautes-Côtes in a context of global warming.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Boris Champy

The vineyard of Domaine Boris Champy extends over twelve to thirteen hectares, located primarily around Nantoux, in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. The vines are perched between 350 and 500 metres of altitude, on rich clay-limestone soils, sometimes stony, sometimes clayey over hard limestone, or composed of gravel over yellow marl. This unusually high altitude for Burgundy is one of the estate's great assets in the face of climate change, guaranteeing natural freshness and acidity in the wines. The plots span several appellations: Hautes-Côtes de Beaune (the heart of the estate, with several distinct plots), Beaune Premier Cru, Pommard and Coteaux Bourguignons.

Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter, the estate adopts a deeply respectful approach to ecosystems: natural grass cover, planting of hedgerows, orchards and calcareous meadows, manual soil work, sheep grazing in certain plots, preserved biodiversity with wild orchids and service trees. The vines are primarily trained at high density (up to 10,000 plants per hectare) with traditional single Guyot pruning, partially in lyre (double Guyot). Each cuvée bears a number corresponding to the average altitude of the plot from which it originates, the estate's poetic and original signature.

Winemaking at Domaine Boris Champy

In the cellar, Boris Champy applies a low-interventionist winemaking philosophy, faithful to his pursuit of precision and terroir transparency. Harvests are entirely manual, at optimal ripeness, followed by rigorous manual sorting and destemming. The winemaking favours gentle extraction, with a variable proportion of whole bunch (up to 50% for certain cuvées such as the Altitude), carried out in large oak casks or fermentation tanks, with perfectly controlled temperature management.

The ageing process extends over approximately twelve months, with limited use of new oak (between 15 and 25% depending on the cuvée), in order to support the wines without masking their identity. Ageing takes place in 228-litre oak barrels, sometimes complemented by a few months in stainless steel tanks. The typical freshness of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune is enhanced by this precise approach, free from excessive extraction or oak influence, which respects the natural rhythm of the grapes. The result is expressed in lively, vibrant wines, endowed with chiselled freshness, distinctive minerality and an ageing potential of five to fifteen years for the reds and five to ten years for the whites.

The Cuvées of Domaine Boris Champy

Bourgogne Aligoté Doré Sélection Massale: a 100% Aligoté Doré cuvée, this Burgundy white reveals the freshness and vivacity typical of the grape variety, enhanced by a massal selection of old vines. Floral and citrusy nose, taut, saline and precise palate.

Bourgogne Aligoté Presse Verticale 429: a second Aligoté Doré cuvée, crafted using a traditional vertical pressing technique. The plot reaches 429 metres of altitude, guaranteeing exceptional freshness. The wine offers a denser texture, a chiselled mineral structure and a finish of rare length.

Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Montagne 382 (white): 100% Chardonnay from a single plot on the Montagne de Cras in Nantoux, perched at 382 metres. The four-hectare plot combines three hectares of vines and one hectare of natural areas of great biodiversity (hedgerows, orchards, calcareous meadows with orchids). Vinified in 228-litre barrels, aged twelve months on the lees with 25% new oak, then in stainless steel tanks. Bright colour, nose of white-fleshed fruits, flowers and chalky minerality, elegant, fresh and precise palate.

Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Altitude (red): the estate's signature red cuvée, produced from a blend of the En Bignon (hard clay-limestone) and Le Clou (stony white limestone) plots. 100% Pinot Noir, vinified with 50% whole bunch in large oak casks, aged twelve months with 15% new oak. The wine displays aromas of stone fruits, cedar and undergrowth, a very expressive palate showcasing the indulgent character of red and black fruits, underpinned by a lovely underlying acidity.

Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Bignon 421: a single-parcel Pinot Noir cuvée from the En Bignon plot, perched at 421 metres. The wine stands out for its mineral profile, its chiselled freshness, and its aromas of cherry, raspberry and spices, in an airy and precise style.

Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Clou 377: a single-parcel Pinot Noir cuvée from the Le Clou climat, at 377 metres of altitude, on white limestone soil and gravel over yellow marl. The wine offers a structured palate, notes of ripe red fruits, gentle spices and a silky tannic framework.

Beaune 1er Cru Aux Coucherias: the estate's flagship Premier Cru from the Côte de Beaune. 100% Pinot Noir with complex aromas of red fruits, flowers and spices, endowed with a silky, well-balanced palate built for ageing.

Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches: another Premier Cru from Beaune, this wine displays a denser and deeper character, an expressive nose of dark fruits and undergrowth, a refined palate with silky tannins and a long finish.

Pommard En Bœuf: a village-level Pommard cuvée from the En Bœuf climat, illustrating the power and structure characteristic of the appellation. Deep colour, intense nose of fleshy dark fruits and spices, dense, full-bodied palate supported by firm yet silky tannins.

Coteaux Bourguignons Gamay Fins: a 100% Gamay cuvée embodying the charm and accessibility of the Coteaux Bourguignons regional appellation. The wine seduces with its vibrant fruitiness, its crunchy freshness and its suppleness, in a light, juicy and approachable style.