News From Burgundy
October 2011
Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy has bought just under 7 ouvrées of Bâtard-Montrachet, plus some Puligny-Montrachet, Les Enseignères (village A.O.C.) from the Domaine Jean-Paul Bavard for her Domaine Auvernay. The price is ruloured to be over a million euros the ouvrée.
August 2011
Olivier Leriche has left the Domaine de l'Arlot in Prémeaux-Prissé to concentrate with his wife Florence on their own property in the Ardèche. To replace him as technical director AXA Millésimes have appointed Jacques Devauges, a 36 year old Burgundian who has worked for the Domaine de la Vougeraie and Michel Magnien in recent years.
July 2011
Maison Champy have taken over the small domaine of Louis Boillot in Volnay, bringing their estate up to 28 hectares. This Louis Boillot is only distantly related to those of Herni and Jean-Marc. The acquisition consists of Volnay, Clos de la Chapelle (monopole), Volnay, Carelle Sous la Chapelle, and Pommard, Chanlins.
A New Wine For The Hospices De Beaune
William D. Friedberg, a Boston importer of wine, has made a donation of 60 ares of village Santenay Rouge to the Hospices de Beaune in memory of his wife who died in 2009. This will be known as Cuvée Christine Friedberg. It will be the first time the Hospices has offered a wine from Santenay.
On the evening of Tuesday July 12th., and for the second time this season, the village of Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise has been hit by hail. The damage this second time is even more serious than that caused by the storm in June. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of the crop has been lost. The vines in neighbouring Mercurey and Bouzeron have also been affected, though to a lesser extent.
So far, thankfully, the Côte d'Or has not been touched.
May 2011
The négociant Seguin-Manuel was bought by Thibaut Marion, of the family which owned Chanson Père et Fils until it was bought by Champagne Bollinger, in 2004. There were then a few vines in Savigny-Lès-Beaune and Beaune itself, and in 2009 the domaine extended to 4.3 hectares. This has since been expanded. To add to three premiers crus in Beaune: Cent Vignes, Champimonts and Clos des Mouches, and vines in Les Godeaux and Les Lavières in Savigny, Seguin-Manuel have now expanded into Puligny-Montrachet, with a small parcel of 50 year old vines in Les Reuchaux. These lie towards the Meursault side of the commune, under Les Perrières and Les Referts. My experience of Seguin-Manuel bottles is limited, but what I hace seen I have liked.
February 2011
Maison Labouré-Roi of Nuits-Saint-Georges have sold their 7 hectare Meursault-based Domaine Réné Manuel to a group of American investors who themselves have devolved responsibility for the vines and wine-making to Jean-Marc Roulot (Domaine Roulot) and Dominique Lafon (Domaines des Comtes Lafon). Part of the estate consists of the monopoly of the Clos des Bouchères, which Jean-Mark Roulot will take on. In order to prerserve the integrity of this parcel and to divide things up fairly, Roulot has traded some of his existing Bouchères to Lafon, who will also take charge of the Poruzots.
January 2011
As from the 2010 vintage the much-respected Domaine Louis Carillon et Fils, based in Puligny-Montrachet, has deen divided between Jacques Carillon and his brother François. The vines in the premiers crus of Combettes and Champs-Gains are being exploited by François, while the Champs Canet, the Referts and the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet (0.12 ha) go to Jacques. The holdings in Puligny-Montachet, Les Perrières and the village wines have been divided. These divisions are sad, particularly in an estate such as this which has been passed on from father to son since 1632, but I am afraid, from time to time inevitable.