De Villaine

History of Domaine de Villaine

The history of Domaine de Villaine began in 1971, when Aubert de Villaine, the renowned co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and his American wife Pamela acquired a property of around 20 hectares in the quiet village of Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise. Their ambition, bold for its time, was to revive the Aligoté doré grape and demonstrate that Burgundy terroir, when cultivated with care, can produce great wines regardless of its place in the official hierarchy.

In 1986, the estate committed to environmentally responsible viticulture and obtained organic certification in 1997, well before such practices became widespread. In 2001, Aubert de Villaine gradually entrusted management to his nephew Pierre de Benoist, who continues the family philosophy with dedication. Under his leadership, the estate has expanded, notably by 10 hectares in Rully, to nearly 29 hectares today, while strengthening its reputation as one of the Côte Chalonnaise’s finest producers.

Terroirs and vineyards of Domaine de Villaine

The vineyards of Domaine de Villaine stretch across sunny hillsides at elevations of 270 to 350 meters, spanning four major Côte Chalonnaise appellations: Bouzeron, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, Rully, and Mercurey, with additional plots in Santenay and Saint-Aubin. The poor, limestone-rich soils, interspersed with clay and Jurassic iron-rich oolites, naturally regulate yields and give the wines a mineral character of rare precision. The warm, dry microclimate of the Bouzeron valley encourages slow, even ripening of the grapes.

The grape varieties reflect Burgundy’s diversity: Aligoté doré, selected from very old vines for its low yields and delicate aromatics, takes center stage, alongside Chardonnay (which accounts for two-thirds of the area planted to white grapes) and Pinot Noir for the reds. The vines, averaging 45 years old, are tended with exceptional care: severe pruning, shoot thinning, green harvesting, and yields deliberately kept around 20% below appellation specifications, producing ripe, healthy bunches that fully express each climat.

Winemaking at Domaine de Villaine

In the winery, the winemaking philosophy remains true to Burgundy’s purest spirit: intervene as little as possible to let the terroir speak. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, followed by rigorous sorting of the grapes. The white grapes are placed whole in a pneumatic press, where slow, gentle pressing yields clear juice without astringency, preserving the aromatic finesse of Aligoté and Chardonnay.

Fermentation uses indigenous yeasts in tanks, barrels, and large oak casks, with temperatures carefully controlled to preserve freshness and aromas. The wines are aged on fine lees, with a measured proportion of new oak to respect the purity of the fruit. The Pinot Noir reds undergo gentle extraction and are aged in older barrels, producing silky, elegant wines with fine tannins. Bottling takes place without excessive filtration, yielding lively, vibrant wines built to age.

The cuvées of Domaine de Villaine

Bouzeron is the estate’s signature cuvée, made from Aligoté doré grown in 17 plots across the village appellation—the only one in France devoted exclusively to Aligoté. With a golden color, a powerful nose of chalk, hawthorn, and acacia, and a round, vibrant, full-bodied yet refreshing palate, this wine can be enjoyed young or cellared for around ten years.

Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Les Clous Aimé is a Chardonnay white wine from a stony climat. Aged in barrels and demi-muids, it stands out for its purity, notes of citrus and white flowers, and finely etched minerality, followed by a taut, saline finish.

Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise La Fortune, made from Pinot Noir, delights with its freshness, red-fruit aromas (strawberry and cherry), and silky texture. An appealing red that can be enjoyed young, combining elegance and precision.

Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise La Digoine comes from a perfectly exposed Pinot Noir plot in Bouzeron, renowned for centuries for the quality of its red wines. Denser and more structured than La Fortune, it has excellent aging potential, revealing deep fruit, fine tannins, and a distinguished finish.

Rully Les Saint-Jacques, a Chardonnay white wine, opens with an inviting nose of white fruit and flowers, followed by a fresh, pure, elegant palate. A superb village-level expression of Rully’s terroirs.

Rully 1er Cru Les Margotés, from a little-known plot of just 0.4 hectares, offers a Chardonnay of great purity, with aromas of orchard fruit, white flowers, and chalk, fine acidity, and a perfectly controlled hint of bitterness.

Rully 1er Cru Grésigny, a Chardonnay white wine, offers a rich, deep palate marked by mineral and floral notes, balancing freshness and generosity remarkably well.

Rully 1er Cru Montpalais, from a southeast-facing slope, offers a generous Chardonnay with slightly exotic notes, complemented by hints of vanilla and sweet spice, and superb aromatic persistence.

Rully 1er Cru Rabourcé, considered one of Rully’s greatest premiers crus, is a powerful, deep, full-bodied white wine capable of standing the test of time, thanks to its old vines planted on a steep clay and limestone slope.

Rully 1er Cru Cloux Blanc (sometimes called Les Cloux) comes from an ideally situated mid-slope plot facing the rising sun. This energetic Chardonnay, with remarkable aromatic finesse and saline mineral notes, has a long, elegant finish.

Rully 1er Cru Raclot, a Chardonnay white wine, stands out for its focused character, chalky minerality, and pure white-fruit aromas. A precise wine built to age.

Rully 1er Cru Les Champs Cloux, made from Pinot Noir, is one of the estate’s finest red wines. Deep and fresh, with good acidity and notes of raspberry and red currant, it has aging potential of 10 to 15 years.

Mercurey Les Montots, a Pinot Noir red, is a noble, structured wine with fine tannins and an elegant finish. A cuvée of great purity that expresses the full, fleshy character of the Mercurey appellation.

Santenay 1er Cru Passetemps, from the Côte de Beaune, charms with its expressiveness, weaving notes of red fruit, rose petals, peony, and a touch of spice into an elegant, refined structure.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Perrières, a Chardonnay white wine from a very stony climat, is taut, mineral, and vibrant. It is aged for 12 to 18 months in barrels and demi-muids, then rests at the estate for a year after bottling before release.