Domaine de Montille, Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots 2015

Our parcel of Beaune Premier Cru "Les Aigrots" of 0.49 hectares is located at the foot of the hill on gently sloping clay, marne and limestone soil. It offers a fruit-driven, ample and generous wine that is usually accessible early on. All our fruit is hand-harvested. Thanks to pneumatic presses, we can calibrate our presses to fit the quality of the grapes and the profile of the vintage. After a light settling, the musts are placed mostly in 600-liter barrels as well as in 228-liter barrels, where the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place. We use approximately five to twenty percent new casks primarily made from Allier wood that sees a long yet light toasting. The first racking occurs after about one year of wood aging, after which begins the second, four- to six-month phase in stainless steel, which preserves the wine's freshness and tension. We finish the aging with a light fining followed by a similarly light and respectful filtration before bottling.

Created in 2003 by Alix de Montille and her brother Etienne, Maison de Montille is a Negoce business which produces wines from some of the best areas of Burgundy as Chevalier-Montrachet or Corton-Charlemagne, both Grands Crus. In this new business, Alix is in charge of the white wines making while her brother handles the vinification of reds. Some years before, they took the reins of the highly respected family estate (Domaine de Montille) , following the path of their renowned father, Hubert de Montille. The task would be enough for most people but Alix and Etienne are like their father, have a deep passion for wine and a strong character. Based in new facilities in Meursault, the wines are as you would expect beautifully made with precision. The De Montille siblings have been fast-rising stars in the wine world, having grown up under the tutelage of their legendary father, Hubert, who passed away in 2014. Hubert was the often-crotchety patriarch of the family's Domaine de Montille, which he ran for years while simultaneously practicing law. In addition to continuing their father's work at Domaine de Montille which is best known for earthy, mineral reds from Volnay and Pommard, Etienne and Alix have branched out in many directions. Etienne spent time abroad (which included at least one California harvest and a stint bartending at Berkeley's Chez Panisse), and returned to not only assist Hubert but take over winemaking at the Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet (which he ended up purchasing in 2012 with a group of investors). Alix, who was seen jousting with Hubert in the documentary film Mondovino (2004), was the original driving force behind Maison de Montille. Seeking out great (and sustainable) grape-growers throughout Burgundy,they now produce more than a dozen distinctive whites that are designed to offer great value at every price point.