COUNTRY :
France
REGION :
Saint-Aubin
PRODUCTION :
Dominique Derain started his career making wine barrels before studying winemaking in Beaune.
In 1988 he and his wife purchased 5.5 hectares of vineyards in Saint-Aubin just south of Beaune and began tending the vines biodynamically. The vines are located around the hill of Montrachet and in the combe de Saint-Aubin. Manure, silica and other plant-based preparations are used. The Saint-Aubin appellation is one of the hidden secrets of Burgundy because the vineyards border those of the premier crus of Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. The wines are certified biodynamic by Ecocert and have been certified since 1989.
Julien Altaber, (Dominique Derain‘s faithful right-hand man since 2002) and Carole Schwab of Domaine Sextant took over the “fermage” (rental) of the plots for him. Dominique is still intimately involved in the cellar and vineyard when he isn’t traveling abroad working on collaborative cuvées. Wines typically see stainless, concrete or fiberglass tanks before racking and aging in old oak. All wines have only one racking before bottling.
–Fifi Selects–
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru “Sur le Sentier du Clou”
Region: Saint-Aubin, a mid-slope section of a south-facing parcel
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak for 12 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“Las Nubes”
Region: Casablanca Valley, Chile. a collaboration with Bodega Montsecano and Julio Donoso
Grape: Pinot Noir
Soil: schist, sand, quartz
Farming: biodynamic practicing
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, vinified in cement eggs.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“D’rain D’rain Tutti Frutti Ananas”
Region: Banyuls-Sur-Mer, a collaboration with Manuel of Vinyer de la Ruca, Zé Tafé of La Cave des Nomades and Joachim Roque of Domaine Carterole
Grape: Grenache
Soil: schist, sand, quartz
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: wines are made in Les 9 Caves, a cooperative cellar in an old garage. fermentation and aging in large concrete vats, bottled young.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“Entre Peaux”
Region: Banyuls-Sur-Mer
Grape: Muscat à Petits Grains
Soil: schist, alluvial
Farming: n/a
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: half de-stemmed, half whole cluster, two months on the skins.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“Landre”
Region: Saint-Aubin, Landre is a 0.3 hectare plot next to the Riaux Pinot Noir Plot.
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Bourgogne Blanc
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“La Combe”
Region: Saint-Aubin, La Combe is a half hectare plot close to Puligny-Montrachet.
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak 12-14 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru “La Combe au Sud”
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak 12-14 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru “En Remilly”
Region: Saint-Aubin. the lieu dit of En Remilly is at the southern border of Saint-Aubin into Chassagne-Montrachet.
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, rocky limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Saint-Aubin “En Vesvau”
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Chardonnay
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press. fermenation in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete depending on vintage. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“Allez Goûtons” Blanc
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Aligoté
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press into vats for 2-3 days, moved to old oak barrels 6-14 months
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Gevrey-Chambertin “En Vosne”
Region: Gevrey-Chambertin
Grape: Pinot Noir, 90 year old vines
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: blend of destemmed and whole bunch fruit, fermented in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete tanks depending on the vintage.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
Saint-Aubin 1er Cru “Le Puits”
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Pinot Noir
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: blend of destemmed and whole cluster fruit, short maceration and fermented in stainless, fiberglass, or concrete tanks depending on the vintage. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary
“Les Riaux”
Region: Saint-Aubin, Les Riaux vineyard is less than half a hectare on the plains of Puligny-Montrachet
Grape: Pinot Noir
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: mostly de-stemmed, a few whole bunches. maceration for two weeks in large wooden vats then transferred into old oak barrels for 6 months.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02:minimal when necessary
“Allez Goûtons” Rouge
Region: Saint-Aubin
Grape: Pinot Noir
Soil: clay, limestone
Farming: certified biodynamic — Ecocert, 1989
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: two-thirds destemmed, macerated for slightly over a week. one-third direct press. fermentation in fiberglass tanks. aged in old oak.
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: minimal when necessary