Maison A&S

History of Maison A&S

The adventure of Maison A&S began in 2018 on the initiative of two young, passionate and complementary Burgundians, Pierre-Alexandre Soltana and Alexandre Aires. Both honed their skills at the greatest estates of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. Alexandre began his winemaking career in 2009 during the harvest, before becoming assistant cellar master in 2011 at Domaine de Bellene run by Nicolas Potel, where he worked for eight years while completing several winemaking internships abroad, in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United States. He is today cellar master at Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair. Pierre-Alexandre, for his part, holds the coveted position of vineyard manager at the prestigious Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault.

The duo wishes to master the entire production chain, from vine to commercialisation, with a view to achieving the highest quality. The first three vintages, 2018, 2019 and 2020, were vinified in a 17th-century vaulted cellar rented in Chagny. In 2021, Maison A&S took a decisive step by acquiring a winery and land in Nantoux, in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. In 2022, a first plot of pinot noir was acquired in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, followed in 2023 by a plot in the Pommard village appellation. Spring 2024 also saw the first planting around the winery, in the AOC Hautes Côtes de Beaune, marking the gradual transition from négociant-vinificateur to a fully-fledged estate.

Terroirs and Vines of Maison A&S

Maison A&S today operates across the Côte de Beaune, with a firmly rooted presence in Nantoux, a charming village in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. The estate-owned vineyard represents nearly one hectare divided between Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Pommard, a heritage under construction that the house regularly enriches. For the remainder, the two friends purchase grapes from winegrowers practising organic farming, favouring loyalty to the same plots year after year, thereby building genuine relationships of trust with the owners.

The clay-limestone soils of the Côte de Beaune, with their varied exposures, offer an ideal terrain for pinot noir and chardonnay. The old vines, particularly those at Mandelot planted in 1960 for the Hautes Côtes de Beaune rouge, bear witness to the house's commitment to characterful grapes sourced from patiently selected plots. The work in the vineyard is rigorous, attentive to the soils and the plant material, in a resolutely organic approach.

Winemaking at Maison A&S

At the Nantoux winery, Maison A&S has invested in high-end winemaking equipment that respects the integrity of the fruit: wooden and stainless-steel vats, destemmer, vibrating table, sorting conveyor belt and a mechanical open-cage horizontal oak press. The grapes are sorted with extreme care upon arrival, destemmed or not depending on the vintage and the desired profile.

Winemaking is carried out without the addition of any inputs, using indigenous yeasts naturally present on the berries, with foot-treading and gentle extractions in order to preserve the fruit, freshness and drinkability of the wines. The ageing process, slow and delicate, takes place in oak barrels with very little new wood, the objective being to support the wine without marking it. Bottling takes place after at least one year of ageing, with minimal sulphuring, sometimes only at bottling. This micro-cuvée approach gives rise to balanced, fine and delicate whites, and to crunchy, juicy reds marked by the purity of red and black fruit and the elegance of pinot noir.

The Cuvées of Maison A&S

Bourgogne Aligoté: a cuvée paying tribute to a long-underestimated grape variety, this Bourgogne Aligoté from Maison A&S reveals the full rediscovered nobility of the cépage. The nose offers notes of citrus, white flowers and green apple, while the palate stands out for its salivating tension, its mineral vibrancy and its beautiful length. A gastronomic and refreshing white, a perfect reflection of the house's expertise.

Bourgogne Chardonnay: this white Bourgogne opens on an appetising nose of white fruits, pear, sweet apple, fresh almond and delicate vanilla notes. The palate, fresh and round, reveals a beautiful richness coating the mouth, perfectly integrated oak and a fine acidity that supports the whole. A well-balanced and refined wine, ideal as an aperitif or with food.

Bourgogne Chardonnay Le Fourneau Sud: a single-plot selection from a specific lieu-dit, this cuvée pushes the expression of chardonnay further. The wine stands out for its denser texture, a precise mineral framework and a long finish marked by toasted notes and a slight butteriness, testament to careful ageing.

Hautes Côtes de Beaune blanc: produced from chardonnay vines planted on the heights of the Côte de Beaune, this white reveals an airy nose of white flowers, citrus and flint. The palate combines freshness, vivacity and finesse, in a delicate, elegant and particularly easy-drinking style.

Hautes Côtes de Beaune rouge: produced from vines planted in 1960 on the lieu-dit Mandelot, this cuvée captivates with its exceptionally clear colour, its expressive nose of raspberry and small acidic red fruits. The palate is light, fresh and tangy, with low tannins, perfectly representative of the house's pure, crunchy and easy-drinking style.

Maranges rouge: a village-level cuvée from the Maranges appellation, at the southernmost tip of the Côte de Beaune. The wine offers a more generous character, with aromas of black fruits (cherry, blackberry), undergrowth and soft spices, supported by a structured yet supple palate built to accompany rich cuisine.

Pommard village: a new estate-owned cuvée since the acquisition of a plot in 2023, this Pommard expresses all the contained power and structured nobility characteristic of the appellation. Deep colour, intense nose of fleshy black fruits, liquorice and spices, a dense and structured palate, supported by well-integrated tannins and a persistent finish built for ageing.