“There are no rules” might seem an implausible mantra for a French aristocrat whose family was ennobled so long ago that the Bourbons are relative arrivistes. In reality, however, it is precisely this aristocratic heritage that bequeaths to Étienne de Montille the confidence to rely on his own finely-bred instincts and considerable winemaking skills.
The Montille family descends from one of France’s most distinguished noble families, and their roots in the Côte d’Or back to the era of Phillip the Bold (1342-1404), who ruled Burgundy when it rivaled France in wealth and prestige. Americans tend to dismiss the value of such a legacy if not, in fact, to disparage it, but the actuality is that such a legacy can contribute enormous value to society at large. Properly transmitted, an aristocratic heritage is not a matter of material wealth or social position but rather an inherited sensibility, a predisposition to stand above the crowd, to remain unmoved by the fashions of the day, to protect and promote those values that transcend self-interest.
The Domaine today consists of 37 hectares of vineyards, all farmed organically and biodynamically, and include some of the finest parcels of 22 appellations spread over the Côte d’Or.
APPELLATIONS: Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune
● COUNTRY
● France
● REGION
● Burgundy
● APPELLATION(S)
● Côte de Beaune & Côte de Nuits
● WINEMAKER
● Étienne de Montille
● FOUNDED
● 1750
● VINEYARD AREA
● 37 hectares
● FARMING
● Biodynamic & Organic (Certified)
● WEBSITE
● demontille.com/en/
