CHATEAU DE VILLARS-FONTAINE, from Burgundy to ...Tahiti
Why on the "Yellow Road" CHATEAU DE VILLARS-FONTAINE?
"The gradual disappearance in Burgundy of these Great Wines of Keeping that the whole world envied us is due in particular to the modifications of the accounting and banking practices. We have seen, since 1995, disappear many wineries. Stocks dropped dramatically to a situation never known in our region. In 2006, they are reduced to a value of 0.7 compared to the production of a normal year.
This situation has favored the development of big organizations, of which large financial groups are often the shareholders. They are achieving very good results thanks to their size and the gradual disappearance of this competition in value of the small farms. The press and professionals talked less and less of "Aged Wines" and the subtlety of their wonderful tertiary aromas revealing themselves over time. They praised the style of these new wines, rounder, more fruity, less tannic and drinking younger, but which, on the other hand, will no longer preserve or develop the complexity brought on by aging. This type of wine, modeled on those of the New World, destroys the identity that made Burgundy famous.
In the estate, we resisted, not without family and banking difficulties, to this "Tsunami". Since 1995, our customers have become overwhelmingly, thanks to their will and with joy, micro-owners of our vines. The "Club des Vignerons de Cœur" was born. They thus continue to supply at the "Avant-Primeur" tariff their cellars and those of their children with very beautiful Burgundy wines still elaborated in the tradition. This innovative concept now attracts at the Clubs some very beautiful estates located in other wine regions of France. Their customers react as we did and reject this global standardization by favoring local identities and productions. This ancient form of autarky is one of the answers to threats the family farms. Some vines shares are still available. The defenders of these values of authenticity, tradition and identity through the Wine are therefore welcome in our Club".
CHATEAU DE VILLARS-FONTAINE is located south of Dijon, near Switzerland.
Yellow Road Questions answered by Mathieu PIECOURT, General Director Domaine de Montmain - Château de Villars Fontaine
1 - Why is your vineyard called “Chateau de Villars Fontaine?”
Originally Bernard called is new estate – Domaine de Montmain in 1973 and he founded everything, the vineyards, the cellar for reception, the office and the Cellar. The wines are called Chateau de Villars Fontaine since the day or Bernard became the owner of the castle in 2000.Today we own two brands, the castle of Villars Fontaine for the wines aged from 1973 to 2012 and the other brand Domaine de Montmain since the vintage 2013.
In Burgundy we can only give the name of castle if we are the owner of the place.
The official successor of Bernard Hudelot is named Mathieu Piecourt.
2 - In 1970, Bernard Hudelot , a young math teacher at a commercial high school, buys a vineyard. How could he raise money for a purchase? Or did he get an inheritance?
Bernard bought some undeveloped land at SAFER, an agency of the French government in charge of replanting the historic vineyards of Burgundy. a bank followed Bernard in these projects as well as his grandfather. At that time the banks lent on guarantees of the parents as well as on the increase of the values of the works.
3 - During the first 10 years you planted 18 hectares of vineyards, and now you already have 30 hectares. Have you had bad years? And how did you cope with failures?
The vineyard has risen today to 30 hectares following redemption possibilities, we have known 4 difficult years for 47 years are the years 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1984. Thanks to our stocks we were able to survive the banking and cash problems. our culture in Burgundy was to keep a year's stock in advance with a year in oak and a year of production
4 - Share your successes in winemaking: awards, prizes...
The most beautiful success we know today by receiving people from around the world in our cellars. In this regard, we have just created a unique reception site in France where it is possible to taste the same wine for more than 30 consecutive years.
We are also developing internationally and we are always looking for people with our values that respect Burgundy tradition around the wines of guard
5 - What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why? Please name your best wines.
To be honest, my favorite wines are our red wine cuvées like the 1990 or 1999 vintage and for the whites I like the acidity of 2004
6 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of three or four of your own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, that can decorate the "poster" of your farm
7- If it's not a secret, tell us about your plans for the future ....
To continue the production of the wines of guard for two reasons, first reason authenticity history of Burgundy, second reason health. (more polyphenols)
8 - You can offer the most beautiful view (favorite point) of the vineyards or the surrounding landscape. May I ask you to take one or two photos of your favorite places? What does your castle look like?
(photos not yet received)
9 - What is your choice for "Yellow Road"?
Hautes Côtes de Nuits – Les Rouard 2007 and the 2014 vintage in Les Jiromees and Rouard
10 - What white wine producer (from France or another country) would you recommend for Yellow Road?
Rene Leclerc based in Gevrey chambertin and Gerard Raphet based in Morey st Denis
11 - What cultural event would you like to see at home: an exhibition, an opera, a ballet, something else or just your own events?
We are open to create partnerships with operas, ballet or other events around our castle while tasting great wines from the estate
12 - Since the late 90s, Bernard has been involved in creating "impossible vineyards" - a project in Tahiti, Gabon, Burma, China.
We know Tahiti from Gauguin's paintings ...
Yes a little bit.
What do vineyards look like in Tahiti?
The vineyard of Tahiti is a vineyard with extreme climatic conditions, an exceptional vineyard. Plantation on the corals, these young soils are very interesting and gives singular wines. Our vineyard in Burgundy at the level of the soils to him 150 million years. Burgundy was on the tropics 150 million years ago so the lands at the top of the hills are white at the moment
What does Tahitian wine look like?
Red wine can look like our Burgundy wines when they wake up. White wines are in a southern Sicilian style
Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project "Yellow Road".
