Description
Founded in the mid-18th century, Domaine de Montille is one of the Côte d’Or’s most historic, family-run estates. It is currently run by the family’s ninth-generation, Etienne de Montille, who inherited the domaine from his late father Hubert.
Hubert Montille managed the estate for a staggering 50 years. During a period where 90% of the region’s production was sold to négociants, he gained fame for his estate-bottled, long-lived and characterful wines. Before Hubert’s tenure, the Montille family had sold off vineyards in Musigny, Bonnes Mares and Chambolle-Musigny, shrinking the estate from 12 to just 2.5 hectares. Hubert focused on restoring the family vineyard holdings. He was a savvy buyer and the domaine now boasts 37 hectares across 35 separate appellations in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits.
Highlights of early acquisitions include Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru `Le Cailleret` in 1993, the domaine’s first Chardonnay vineyard, neighbouring the ‘Montrachet’ Grand Cru. In 2005 they also purchased the Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru `Aux Malconsorts` which neighbours the Grand Cru of ‘La Tâche’. In 2012, Etienne purchased Château de Puligny-Montrachet. This was a turning point for the domaine, enabling them to become a major player in both red and white wine production throughout the Côte d’Or. Etienne was an early advocate of organic farming which he introduced to the estate’s vineyards in 1995. Biodynamic practices followed in 2005, and the domaine received ‘Ecocert Bio’ certification in 2012.
Winemaking at Domaine de Montille has evolved over the years. Etienne, having studied oenology and worked as Hubert’s apprentice, sought a more progressive approach to vinification than his father’s traditional methods. Gradually, Hubert allowed his son more control and Etienne’s influence on the winemaking became evident from the late 1990s. Today, Etienne works with American-born chef de cave Brian Sieve, who has been with the domaine for over a decade. Together they make wines that are aromatic, supple and approachable in their youth, yet still offer the impressive capacity for ageing for which Hubert was renowned.