Grapes: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Vintage: 2023
Viticulture: Biodynamic
Soils: Clay + Calcareous
Vinification: Direct press, then fermented in barrels
Aging: 9 months in barrel
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: None added
Notes from the Importer: Dominique Derain started his career making wine barrels but decided, instead, to study winemaking in Beaune. In 1988 he and his wife Catherine purchased 5.5 hectares of vineyards in Saint-Aubin just south of Beaune and began tending the vines biodynamically and making their wines in a non-interventionist way as well.
The Saint-Aubin appellation is one of the hidden secrets of Burgundy because the vineyards border those of the premier crus of Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet but do not command anywhere near their price.
This domaine has now been purchased by Julien Altaber and Carole Schwab of Domaine Sextant who will continue making the wines in the same style. Julien, of course, has been assisting Dominique in his cellars for over 10 years so knows each of the wines in detail.
