Cottenceau

History of Domaine Cottenceau

The history of Domaine Cottenceau begins with an early calling. Maxime Cottenceau, born in 1996, grew up in a family of winegrowers with deep roots in the village of Buxy, where his parents had been cultivating the family vines for several generations as members of the Buxy cooperative cellar. Refusing to continue this tradition, Maxime decided very early on to take a different path: to vinify and bottle the domaine's grapes himself, rather than selling them. To prepare for this, he obtained a BTS in Viticulture-Oenology, then completed a decisive two-year apprenticeship with Vincent Dureuil, the iconic winegrower of Domaine Dureuil-Janthial in Rully, considered one of the great masters of the Côte Chalonnaise.

This rigorous training, alongside an exceptional mentor, instilled in him an absolute standard of excellence in vineyard management and precision in winemaking. In 2018, Maxime took the plunge and created his own domaine, gradually taking over the 7.5 hectares of family vines. He immediately chose organic farming and began the conversion in 2020, the year certification was obtained. Acclaimed from his very first vintages by the specialist press and enthusiasts alike (La Revue du Vin de France, La Passion du Vin, international importers such as Skurnik in the United States), the domaine has established itself in just a few years as one of the most promising revelations of the Côte Chalonnaise. His style, at the crossroads of great Burgundian expertise and a modern, exacting approach, is regularly compared to that of his mentor Vincent Dureuil.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Cottenceau

The vineyard of Domaine Cottenceau extends over 7.5 hectares (with the ambition of reaching around ten hectares) spread across several appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise: Montagny (the heart of the domaine), Givry, Mercurey and regional Bourgogne. The soils are characteristic of southern Burgundy: clay-limestone, Lias marl and Jurassic limestone, which impart their mineral signature, freshness and elegance to the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In Buxy, the capital of the Montagny appellation, the south-east facing hillsides are ideal for the ripening of Chardonnay, the only grape variety permitted in the appellation.

A significant portion of the vineyard is made up of old vines, a precious heritage from previous generations, which bring concentration and aromatic complexity to the cuvées. The grape varieties are dominated by Chardonnay for the whites, complemented by Aligoté for a few regional cuvées and by Pinot Noir for the reds (Givry, Mercurey, Bourgogne). Maxime converted the entire domaine to organic farming with certification for the 2020 vintage, in keeping with the approach pursued alongside Vincent Dureuil. The soils are worked without herbicides or chemicals, and the harvests are entirely manual, with meticulous attention paid to each parcel — an essential condition for producing the wines of precision sought.

Vinifications at Domaine Cottenceau

In the cellar, Maxime Cottenceau applies a precise and exacting winemaking approach, strongly inspired by the style of his mentor Vincent Dureuil. For the whites, pressing is gentle and progressive, followed by light settling. Fermentations are conducted solely with the indigenous yeasts native to the grapes, in French oak barrels. Ageing is deliberately long (up to 18 to 20 months depending on the cuvée), with a very measured use of new wood, so as never to overwhelm the fruit and mineral signature of the terroir. The resulting whites display a pleasing structure, remarkable freshness and a chiselled clarity reminiscent of the great Rully wines of Dureuil-Janthial.

For the reds, Maxime favours a modern approach in search of the right maturity and controlled ageing. Vinifications are low-intervention, fermentations conducted with indigenous yeasts, with a focus on freshness and digestibility. Since the most recent vintage, the winemaker has refined his ageing and adjusted his vinification to produce reds that are less austere in their youth and more accessible upon release. The wines are not over-filtered, and sulphites are used sparingly. The result is a recognisable signature: gastronomic whites of great purity, never overshadowed by the ageing process, and juicy, indulgent reds with a precise signature. A young revelation in Burgundy that is absolutely worth following.

The Cuvées of Domaine Cottenceau

Bourgogne Chardonnay Les Verchères: the signature regional cuvée, produced from 100% Chardonnay from the lieu-dit Les Verchères. Pale golden colour, expressive nose of citrus, white flowers and a mineral touch, a fresh palate balanced between roundness and vivacity. A cuvée that offers a first insight into the domaine's style, to drink in its youth or to keep for 4 to 5 years. A favourite of several wine merchants and critics.

Montagny Les Bassets: a village cuvée in AOC Montagny, produced from 100% Chardonnay on south-east facing clay-limestone soils. Pale colour, expressive nose of white flowers, orchard fruits and citrus touches, a taut, precise palate with the mineral backbone typical of Montagny. An elegant and accessible Burgundian white.

Montagny 1er Cru Les Vignes Longues: a Premier Cru in AOC Montagny, produced from 100% Chardonnay from the lieu-dit Les Vignes Longues. Long ageing in oak barrels. Brilliant colour, complex nose of stone fruits, white flowers and mineral notes, a dense, deep palate with a saline signature and a long finish.

Montagny 1er Cru La Vigne du Soleil: a Premier Cru in AOC Montagny from the lieu-dit La Vigne du Soleil, with an ideal exposure. 100% Chardonnay, vinified and aged with precision. Pale golden colour, aromatic nose of ripe stone fruits and white flowers, a structured palate with a pronounced mineral backbone.

Montagny 1er Cru Montcuchot: a Premier Cru in AOC Montagny from the renowned lieu-dit Montcuchot, among the most prestigious in the appellation. 100% Chardonnay on clay-limestone soils. Brilliant colour, expressive and complex nose, a deep and long palate with a chiselled signature. An exceptional Premier Cru that reveals the full potential of Montagny.

Montagny La Moullière: a single-parcel cuvée in AOC Montagny from the lieu-dit La Moullière. 100% Chardonnay vinified in barrels. Pale colour, floral and fruity nose, a taut, well-balanced palate with fine minerality. A precise expression of the terroir.

Montagny Les Dazés: a single-parcel cuvée in AOC Montagny from the lieu-dit Les Dazés. 100% Chardonnay, vinified with the same rigour as the other cuvées. Another nuance of the domaine's Montagny wines, with a precise and distinctive signature.

Givry Blanc Champ Pourot: a village cuvée in AOC Givry, produced from 100% Chardonnay from the lieu-dit Champ Pourot. Vinification and ageing in oak barrels in the pure Dureuil style. Brilliant colour, complex nose of dried fruits and toasted cereals, smoke, citrus and stone fruits, spices (white pepper, ginger), a full-bodied palate with well-judged acidity, long finish. A style that is clearly reminiscent of the wines of Dureuil-Janthial.

Givry Rouge Champ Pourot: a village cuvée in Givry rouge, produced from 100% Pinot Noir from the same lieu-dit. Brilliant ruby colour, charming nose of crunchy cherry, raspberry and a touch of gentle spices, a palate full of indulgence, juicy fruit, fine tannins, great freshness, a finish that makes you want to pour another glass. A Burgundian Pinot Noir that speaks from the very first nose.

Mercurey Rouge: a village cuvée in AOC Mercurey, produced from 100% Pinot Noir. Deep ruby colour, expressive nose of red and black fruits, spices, a structured, indulgent palate with the domaine's precise signature. A Mercurey in a modern and accessible style.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir Chazelles: a regional cuvée in Bourgogne rouge, produced from 100% Pinot Noir from the lieu-dit Chazelles. Pale ruby colour, fresh nose of red fruits, a fluid and thirst-quenching palate. An appetising introduction to the domaine's world.

Bourgogne Aligoté: a regional cuvée in Aligoté, a grape variety often overlooked in Burgundy. Pale colour with green highlights, nose of citrus, green apple, toasted hazelnut and floral notes typical of acacia. A lively yet relatively comfortable palate, indulgent juice, still fairly simple at this stage but devilishly precise. A safe bet at a particularly attractive price.