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Laroche Chablis (Fra) Domaine Laroche is directly linked to the history of Chablis. One of the most respected and largest landholders of Grand Cru vineyard, Domaine Laroche owns 90 hectares of vineyard situated amongst the best crus. Its headquarters, the Obédiencerie of Chablis, reveals a heritage dating back from the Middle Ages when the Canons of Saint Martin of Tours were making wine. This exceptional testimony is very much alive: Domaine Laroche still elaborates and ages its Premiers and Grands Crus in these historical cellars. Its wines are a testimony of 1000 years of history. The Laroche philosophy is based on a very special care of the terroirs for each of them to express its very own characteristics in the glass. The importance of the ecological balance is crucial to maintain the vineyard heritage and to favour its durability. The respect of the soil, of the vine workers and of the environment are Laroche major commitments. The gentlest-possible methods are used in the winery to protect the fruit’s natural characters and maintain the purest expressions of each vineyard plot. Fermentation is usually carried out in stainless-steel tanks, except for the premiers and grands crus, which are partly fermented in barrels in order to impart delicate oak avour and additional oxygen. As part of Michel Laroche’s goal to retain purity and minerality in the nished wines, he was the rst Burgundian producer, in 2001, to switch to screwcap closures, even for his grand cru wines. Jean Marc Boillot Côte de Beaune (Fra) In 1984 after vinifying 13 vintages at the family’s domaine Henri Boillot, Jean-Marc became the winemaker at Olivier Le aive and simultaneously started to produce his own wines from 2 hectares of vineyards under his own label. From his grandfather Henri Boillot, Jean-Marc inherited vineyards as well as his cellars in Pommard where the estate operates today. The vineyards are planted with very high density of 12,000 vines per hectare and the estate’s old vines are the object of special cares in particular the Pommard Jarollières, Puligny Combettes and Champ-Canet inherited from Jean-Marc’s maternal grand-father who planted them: Etienne Sauzet. The whites are fermented and aged in oak barrels (25 to 30% new) before going through 11 months before racking with lees stirring (“batonnage”) once a week. The reds are fully de-stemmed before going through a cold maceration and then ferment with punching downs. Ageing takes place in oak barrels, 50% new, during generally 16 months. Roger Belland Côte de Beaune (Fra) Roger Belland and his daughter Julie represent the fth and sixth generations of Belland vineyard owners and winemakers in the Cote d’Or. Dating back to 1839, the Domaine consists of 23 hectares across the communes of Les Maranges, Santenay, Puligny and Chassange Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay and Pommard. The family winery is located in the village of Santenay-la-Bas, and Roger holds the single largest parcel of Grand Cru Criots Batard Montrachet. The philoso- phy of the Domaine is to work early and intensively in the vineyard. Using no pesticides for over 20 years, the family ploughs the soil to control the weeds, while encouraging the roots to dig deeper. Shoots are thinned before bud-break for a naturally low yield that prevents the need for green harvesting, and leaves are thinned several times to attain good aeration and sunlight for the clusters. Grass is encouraged to grow between the rows to stimulate microbial activity that drastically limits the need for treatment of the vines. The result is maximum expression of “terroir”. With only perfectly ripe bunches, hand-cut from the vine, vini cation takes place in a modern winery and ageing occurs in only the best oak barrels that are up to three years old. Employing a traditional winemaking process, all of Roger and Julie’s wines are spectacular and rare.