Henri de Villamont Santenay Les Champs Claude 2014

History, modernity, and respect — these 3 words are emblematic of the oenological philosophy at Domaine Henri de Villamont — a domain, a cellar, and a vineyard all in one, producing wines of exceptional quality by combining terroir and modernity.

Headquartered just outside the center of Savigny-lès-Beaune, one of Burgundy's esteemed winemaking regions, Domaine Henri de Villamont can trace its roots back to the endeavors of Léonce Bocquet in the late 19th century. Bocquet, one of the most important wine producers of his generation, sought to create a vinification and aging facility for his various wineries, including the esteemed Chateau Clos de Vougeot. Renowned architect Charles Suisse was enlisted to aid in the construction of the estate's iconic buildings, which perfectly capture Burgundy’s trademark esthetics. Cellars with an area of 2400m2 and 6 meters high under the vault were constructed in 8 years. These caverns are still used to this day to store barrels of wine. The main building was designed with red bricks and light gray stones on the façade and a roof made of slate. An engraved stone bears the inscription “1888” to commemorate the date of the project’s completion.

Following Bocquet's passing, the estate changed hands several times until the Swiss familial group Schenk Holdings, a prominent player in the European wine market, purchased it in 1964. This marked the birth of Domaine Henri de Villamont, a name inspired by a crusading knight who had retired to Savigny, and a brand new chapter in the estate's storied history. Under Schenk's vitalized stewardship the estate flourished, expanding its production to over 20 million bottles by 2004. Director and winemaker Pierre Jhéan joined in 1999 and he is still directing and overseeing the vinification of the wines to this very day. However, a strategic shift took place soon after, following a sudden desire to refocus on quality over quantity. In 2004, Schenk made the ambitious decision to break off from his négociant activities, signaling a commitment to elevating the estate's winemaking prowess. With a renewed focus on technical innovation and quality, the winery underwent a comprehensive renovation at a cost of almost 2 million euros, equipping itself with state-of-the-art oenological tools — such as rows of temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation tanks and 10 hectares of their own domaine vines. This dedication to excellence led to a reduced production from 20 million bottles in 2004 to a more selective 250-350,000 bottles today — a mere 100th of their previous output. 

Of the domaine’s 10 hectares of vines, 6.5 can be found in Savigny-lès-Beaune and 2 are located by Savigny Clos des Guettes, which overlooks the winery and the manor house. The remaining hectares include five 1er Crus from Chambolle-Musigny and 0.5 hectares of Grands-Echézeaux. The domaine wines are all red Pinot Noir grapes except for a small amount of Chardonnay vines planted in the Savigny Clos des Guettes. White grapes come from the Côte de Beaune, Chablis, and Pouilly. All grape varieties are harvested by hand before being carefully de-stemmed and pressed. With aging periods ranging from 6 to 12 months, Henri de Villamont's white wines undergo a transformation in the cellar after spending a few days in vats, which contribute to the color expression ranging from youthful yellow to aged golden. For the Pinot Noir grapes, after 2 to 3 weeks of vinification the juice descends into the serene darkness of Henri de Villamont's cellars, where it embarks on a lengthier journey of transformation. Over the course of 9 to 18 months, the red wine matures slowly in French oak barrels, allowing the personalities of Burgundy's iconic terroir to burst through.