Bertrand Ambroise first came to Beaune when his father was transferred to work there on the French railways. He then enlisted in the Lycée Viticole to study winemaking as this was considered an easier option than the shepherding school!
Whilst at the school, he met his future wife Martine. After they married, Bertrand worked alongside Martine’s dad until his death in 1988 when the couple took over the 8 hectares and took the estate from strength to strength. A family run business, Bertrand is now joined by his son, François, in the winemaking and his daughter, Ludivine, in the running of the Domaine. Together they produce boutique wines in the traditional Burgundy way, as the photos attest!
The Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits in our exclusive parcel is 100% chardonnay and grown according to the principals of sustainable viticulture. Whereas most wines classified as Hautes Côtes de Nuits come from vineyards up to 15 km from the Cote de Nuits appellation, the vines which make this wine come from not more than 1km from the winery in Prémeaux-Prissey and the Côte de Nuits appellation.
The wine is fermented in oak barrels and aged in a mixture of large and small oak barrels. It’s aged on it’s lees (yeast) to give complexity and subjected to minimal racking. Lees stirring is frequent up until the malolactic fermentation and continues throughout the barrel maturation. Culminating in the wine being bottled in November or December of the year following the harvest.
This time and effort is reflected in the subtle nuances and complexities of the wines the Ambroise family produces. The wines show tremendous potential for aging and paired with the right food, can make a dinner party to remember. You can even see a recommended recipe for a French dish to suit here:
Recipe Suggestion: Les Oeufs en Meurette.
