Lifestyle

Guillaume D’Angerville: Reinventing The Family’s Estate For Modern Times

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Guillaume d'Angerville
Picture: Domaine Marquis d’Angerville

Following the sudden passing of his father in 2003, Guillaume d’Angerville took over the rein of managing his household’s intensive vineyards. Wine connoisseurs can be fast to note that the wines from the Marquis d’Angerville property are recognized for his or her high quality. With a heritage that spans over centuries, its winemaking know-how is revered within the trade.

Although not fairly a transition that Guillaume had hoped for, he took on the challenges with gusto and persevered on. Forward, he shares with LUXUO the intricacies concerned and his wine pairing suggestions.

Inform us in regards to the historical past of the Marquis d’Angerville property, which 12 months do the Chateau and its surrounding winery date again?

The village of Volnay was the property of the Dukes of Burgundy within the Center Ages, and was already coated with vineyards. Actually, the title of Domaine Marquis d’Angerville’s most prestigious wine, Clos des Ducs, Monopole, derives its title from the Dukes of Burgundy who owned it then. The title has been registered as such for no less than 500 years.

My household bought the property (not a chateau, not a really Burgundy phrase) firstly of the 19th century (1804) and it has been within the household, and run by a member of the family since then. My grandfather took over the property round 1905 and proceeded to replant the vineyards that had been destroyed by phylloxera. We owe him the popularity of the Domaine right now.

You misplaced your father somewhat abruptly in 2003, it was a serious shock inside the household and also you have been at the moment working for JP Morgan in Paris. How did you copwith these extraordinarily troublesome moments and subsequently take over the administration of the property? 

Domaine Marquis d’Angerville vineyard
Picture: Domaine Marquis d’Angerville

My father Jacques died unexpectedly in July 2003, after supervising 52 vintages in a row, however we had beforehand mentioned my homecoming to take over from him. The unhappy information was that there was no overlap between him and me, as had been deliberate. However, my brother-in-law, who’s an agricultural engineer, had labored with my father for 15 years earlier than he handed away, and agreed to stick with me for so long as essential. He “downloaded” on me what he had learnt from my father. He was a fantastic instructor and acquired me began in the absolute best means.

You labored in New York, London and Paris. Did you all the time intend to come back again in the future to Burgundy? 

As early as once I was a young person, my father had advisable that I ought to stay and work overseas, and I adopted his recommendation. On the time of his demise, I had returned to Paris, and he and I had common discussions on the timing of my return, not on the potential for such return, which was all the time the intention.

What adjustments have you ever seen in Burgundy since taking up the property in 2003?

The very first thing that strikes me is that the general high quality of the wines produced in Burgundy has continued to enhance at a speedy tempo over that interval. There are increasingly more nice producers within the area, and the youthful era (youthful than me, that’s!) may be very promising certainly.

The opposite notable factor, after all, is that Burgundy has gained appreciable recognition worldwide, and that high quality wines out of the area are all the time in brief provide. It’s a tiny area when it comes to acreage, and there’s no risk of accelerating acreage, whereas the viewers for Burgundy wines retains rising.

The secondary impact of this example is a speedy inflation of land costs, which itself contributes to increased bottle costs. Now we have seen the looks of overseas buyers buying land at costs native growers can’t compete with.

Why did you progress to biodynamic viticulture?

biodynamic viticulture
Picture: Domaine Marquis d’Angerville

I used to be an in depth good friend of Anne-Claude Leflaive (identical delivery 12 months), and he or she was naturally on my listing to go to once I returned to Burgundy. Once we had lunch collectively, she proceeded to clarify why I ought to convert the property to biodynamic, which she had performed a number of years earlier than (she was actually the pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy). She was somewhat convincing, and I made a decision to comply with her recommendation. Initially, it was robust however my important goal was to guard my soils, that are broken when utilizing chemical substances. This was a ok purpose to proceed, however I used to be fast to understand that biodynamic viticulture additionally has a constructive impression on the wines, giving them additional vitality and stability.

Your native distributor Corney & Barrow has been selling the 2017 Domaine Marquis d’Angerville produced from Chardonnay grapes. How would you describe this particular cuvée?  

Whereas Domaine Marquis d’Angerville is usually recognized for its red wines, I’m more than happy to supply three white wines as properly: Meursault 1er cru Santenots, Bourgogne Chardonnay and Bourgogne Aligoté. The Bourgogne Chardonnay you might be referring to comes from a winery situated on the village of Volnay, within the flatter a part of the village. The 2017 Bourgogne Chardonnay is an ideal instance of what we like to attain with this cuvée: the strain within the wine that offers it vitality, and but there’s a sensation of quantity and size within the mouth. Pretty citrus aromas within the early years, that fade away with bottle ageing. 

Which wine from the property would you choose for a extra formal dinner composed of beef or wild sport meat? 

Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Wines
Picture: Domaine Marquis d’Angerville

The Premiers Crus from Volnay are well-suited for beef or wild sport meat. For a proper dinner with subtle cooking, I’d advocate a Volnay 1er cru Taillepieds, or a Volnay 1er cru Clos des Ducs, Monopole. A little bit of age is important, maybe a 2011 or 2014. 2015 would work properly with wild sport meats.

Which wine from the property would you choose for a extra lighter lunch? 

Volnay 1er cru Clos des Angles or Volnay Premier Cru. Each are approachable sooner than the opposite premiers crus. Bourgogne Pinot Noir or Bourgogne Passetoutgrain are different, lighter choices.

How do you view Burgundy wine lovers in Asia versus European or American common Burgundy wine drinkers? How do their style or requests differ? 

I’ve been very impressed by the extent of information Asian drinkers have about Burgundy normally, and Volnay and Domaine Marquis d’Angerville’s wines. The US market has been a number one purchaser of Burgundy wines for over a century now, and my grandfather began promoting into the US simply after the prohibition. Asia is a comparatively new market as compared however is catching up quick, and the wine viewers is avid to be taught and perceive our sophisticated area classification. It’s fairly refreshing for a winemaker to know that the last word shopper is aware of what she or he is ingesting.

Do you welcome guests and wine lovers on the property?

Sadly, on account of overwhelming demand, we not settle for guests to the property. Skilled shoppers and wine journalists are welcome.

Have you ever seen the 2017 film by Cedric Klapisch ”Ce qui nous Lie” (Again to Burgundy)? How did you personally react to that film set in Burgundy and specializing in inheritance points? 

Cedric Klapisch’s “Ce qui nous Lie” is a superb film that may be very touching for the local people as a result of the story it tells may be very real looking. Each wine-growing household has needed to face the problem of arranging the transmission of the property to the following era, and it’s a problem all of us should stay with, particularly at a time of rising land costs, as mentioned earlier.

Cedric Klapisch reveals these difficulties very properly, with a fantastic set of actors, together with my good friend Jean-Marc Roulot, actor, and winegrower in Meursault.

What’s your private favorite reminiscence engaged on your loved ones’s property collectively together with your youngsters?

The harvest is all the time the most effective time to gather good recollections. It is rather onerous work, however additionally it is the results of a complete 12 months of caring for the winery. The most effective reminiscence of all, after all, is the well-known Paulée, the meal that celebrates the top of the harvest. It’s ready and served by the proprietor for the vendangeurs who’ve labored onerous to convey the grapes house.

It’s a very convivial affair, with plenty of songs and laughter collectively.


In Singapore,

Electronic mail: contactsg@corneyandbarrow.com

Tel: +65 6221 8530

For extra details about Marquis d’Angerville, click on here.

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