Volnay 1er Cru "Les Brouillards"

The appellation

Volnay is the stronghold of the family estate. This modestly-sized appellation of 207 hectares, entirely devoted to Pinot Noir, is nestled on the middle of the slopes and composed of a terroir dominated by clay, marl and limestone that long ago conquered the hearts of the dukes of Burgundy, who were proprietors of a portion of the vineyard.

Contrary to what one might think, the term "Brouillard" isn't linked to meteorology but rather to the old French word "breuil" or beuillât", or a small area where young or short trees grow.

The Premier Cru "Les Brouillards" is quite heterogeneous. The Domaine's tiny vineyard of 0.37 hectare is found in the top – and best – portion that runs alongside "Les Mitans", on a rocky and marl-dense soil with fine clay.

Like the Volnay Premier Cru "La Carelle sous Chapelle", "Les Brouillards" is a wine more focused on fruit than structure. Generous, accessible and elegant, it generally opens up earlier than other Premier Crus, between five and seven years.

The wines, the style

Domaine de Montille is known to craft wines with great aromatic purity, always favoring balance and elegance over power and extraction. The wines are classic expressions of Burgundy, produced in the most natural way possible and possessing an impressive ability to age, as the family believes only time can reveal the true potential of the greatest wines. The domaine's current style remains faithful to Hubert's natural and idealistic approach, which demanded considerable patience while waiting for appropriate drinking windows for certain vintages. Etienne, however, has taken up the task to bring greater aromatic expression and silkier and more unctuous textures to the reds, allowing them to drink earlier, without compromising their ability to age. The domaine is known in Burgundy, among others such as Arlot, DRC, Dujac and Leroy, to regularly vinify using a significant proportion of whole clusters, varying by cuvée and by vintage.

Tending the Vines

The Domaine has practiced organic viticulture since 1995. Today, our wines are certified by Ecocert. Additionally, since 2005, biodynamic practices have been implemented to show our full respect for these living soils.