Domaine Billard Père et Fils Village: La Rochepot Appellation: 26ha Hautes Cotes de Beaune Saint Romain Saint Aubin 1er Cru Auxey Duresses Santenay Beaune Pommard Grower: Jérôme Billard Website: https://www.instagram.com/domaine_billard_pere_et_fils Downloadable PDF Domaine Billard has approximately 26 hectares of vineyards in different appellations throughout the Cotes de Beaune. Their largest holdings are in the Hautes Cotes de Beaune with other small plots located in Saint Aubin 1er Cru, Saint Romain, Auxey Duresses, Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay, and Pommard. When the domaine passed from father to son, Jérôme Billard brought a new philosophy with him. The farming practices changed to eliminate chemicals, rebalance the soils and follow the principles of organic farming. Jerome hired a specialist to work a few of their vineyards with a horse, and in 2019, after seeing the results, the Billards purchased their own horse, which enabled them to expand the number of vineyards they work without a tractor. In contrast to his father, who sold his wine to the local cooperative, Jérôme developed a market for his wines, and estate bottles his entire production. Yields are kept low by severe pruning and the use of cover crops. The vines are harvested by hand and Jérôme likes to harvest on the “late side,” to give good concentration to his wines. Fermentations utilize indigenous yeasts and a modest amount of SO2 is added before bottling; 25mg/L for whites and 15mg/L for reds. There are about 20 villages included in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune appellation. These old villages, many of which are barely inhabited, are secluded in the hills and their vineyards are interspersed with woodlands and farms that grow a variety of crops. The Billard family home and winery are located in one of these, La Rochepot, a small village noted for its elaborate 13th century chateau which is set into a rocky hillside. Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc The Billard’s HCB Blanc is 100% Chardonnay. The 10-hectare vineyard has the place name, “lieu dit,” of La Justice and is located in the village of La Rochepot. The soil is very chalky, and the land has good drainage and exposure. The grapes are fermented in barrel and then matured for 6 months “sur lie” before bottling. The resulting wine is rich, well-structured, and elegant. Hautes Côtes de Beaune Rouge The Billard HCB Rouge comes from a plot of 6 hectares with alluvial clay soil in the village of Saint Aubin. Before harvest, a rigorous bunch selection is done in the vineyard to insure that only ripe and healthy grapes are brought into the winery. The Pinot Noir is fermented in vat with the extraction obtained by foot pressing. The goal is to preserve the delicate nature of the grapes and obtain a purity of expression. The wine is then matured in barrel for 6 to 9 months. Aligoté The Billard’s have 2.5 hectares of Aligoté planted in the village of La Rochepot. The vineyards are planted with “massale” selections, and the average age of the vines is 45 years, with the oldest parcel dating to 1947. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and then matured in tank for 6 months “sur lie” before bottling. The resulting wine is both high-toned and sensual. Saint Aubin is a small commune that produces both white and red wines, and is located just behind the Montrachet vineyards. The soils are very chalky, and the slopes can be quite steep. The whites have recently received a great deal of attention and the reds, of which there are only 57 hectares planted, are slowly making their way into the pantheon of classic Côtes de Beaune. Saint Aubin 1er Cru “Vignes Moingeon" Blanc The Billards have .75 hectares of Chardonnay planted in the 1er Cru vineyard “Vignes Moingeon” producing about 300 cases a year. The “Vignes Moingeon” vineyard has a very chalky soil known as “marnes blanches” with good elevation and south-eastern exposure. The Saint Aubin Blanc is barrel fermented in wood from the Tronçais forest in the Allier. One third of the barrels are new and the wine remains in barrel “sur lie” for a year before bottling. Saint Aubin 1er Cru “Les Castets" Rouge The Billards have .32 hectares of Pinot Noir planted in the 1er Cru vineyard “Les Castets,” producing about 100 cases per year. The “Les Castets” vineyard is on a gentle incline and has a blend of “marnes blanches” and “marno-calcaires” soils that favor the Pinot Noir grape. The Saint Aubin Rouge is fermented in vat with daily pigeages. It is matured for a year in Vosges and Troncais barrels, a third of which is new. Saint Romain is a small appellation that is deserving of more attention. The vineyards are nestled between 300 and 400 meters in elevation along a valley that runs east to west behind Meursault and Monthelie. Saint Romain Blanc “La Combe Bazin" The Billards own 2.25 hectares in Saint Romain with 1.25 h of Chardonnay planted in the lieu dit “La Combe Bazin.” The white wine is barrel fermented with 25% new wood. It is matured “sur lie” for a year and is minimally fined and filtered before bottling. The “La Combe Bazin” terroir produces a wine with lively acidity which offers a perfect balance to the sensual mouth feel of this classic Burgundy. Saint Romain Rouge “La Perrière" The Saint Romain Rouge is produced from 1 hectare on calcareous clay soil. The grapes are fermented in vat with indigenous yeasts and the pressing is done partially by foot. The wine is matured in barrels, 20% new, for 9 months. Santenay “Les Hâtes” The Billards farm 1 hectare in the Santenay “lieu dit” Les Hâtes. Les Hâtes is one of the larger “climats” in Santenay and is situated between the 1er Cru vineyards, Passetemps and Beaurepaire. The vines in the Billard’s parcel are 45 years old. The wine is fermented in cement tanks at low temperatures with a daily punching down of the cap. The wine is then matured in oak barrels for 9/10 months. Typically, 20% of the barrels are new. Beaune 1er Cru “Les Chouacheux” Beaune is the third largest commune in the Côte D’Or after Gevrey Chambertin and Meursault. Most of the vineyards are classified as Premier Cru with smaller parcels of “village” wine on the southern and northern fringes. The Billards farm .33h in the “Chouacheux” vineyard, a 1er Cru on the Pommard side, close to “Clos des Mouches.” It has the deep clay soil characteristic of its sector. The wine is vinified in cement vats and the maceration lasts about 15 days. During this time, the “pigeage” is done by foot. The wine is matured for a year in Tronçais oak barrels, 25% new. Pommard The Pommard is produced by combining two very small parcels of vineyards; “Les Tavannes” and “Le Bas des Saussilles,” each parcel approximately a quarter hectare in size. As with his other wines, Jerome harvests on the late side and all grapes are harvested manually. Fermentation in cement vats with a maceration of up to two weeks is followed by 15 months of maturing in oak barrels, one third new. The wine combines the typical structure of Pommard with a fleshy texture and fine tannins. Chassagne-Montrachet “Les Morichots” The Billards farm .5 hectares in the Chassagne “lieu dit” Les Morichots. Les Morichots is located in the lower part of the appellation and has a soil that is particularly rich in iron and flint, giving the wine a distinctive minerality. The vines in the Billard’s parcel have an average age of 45 years. The wine is fermented in cement tanks at low temperatures with a daily punching down of the cap. The wine is then matured in oak barrels for 9/10 months. Typically, 20% of the barrels are new.