In January 2021 we were thrilled to introduce, for the first time in the UK, the wines of the highly talented Boris Champy, who has recently taken over running a top estate in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. These vineyards were originally assembled and brought to prominence by Didier Montchovet, who was a pioneer of organic and bio-dynamic viticulture, dating back to 1984. Didier had reached retirement age, so handed over to Boris, an oenologist by training, with an impressive wine-making record. He previously worked in Libourne for the Moueix family, in Napa at Dominus estate, then for a Beaune shipper, then as manager for Domaine du Clos des Lambrays, in Morey-Saint-Denis. His vineyards today are situated in the hills westwards of Pommard, with others in the adjoining commune of Bouze-lès-Beaune. Due to the higher altitude of the vines, grapes typically come to ripeness a week or so later here than on the Côte de Beaune. This used to be a disadvantage, but with the hotter summers Burgundy is now regularly experiencing, it allows precious acidity to be retained, while simultaneously natural sugars and grape-skins can be brought to complete ripeness.
