Domaine Ludovic & Emilien Bonnardot
Ludovic Bonnardot comes from a very long line of vignerons; he can trace his roots back to 1470! In the present day, Ludovic was inspired by his mum, who trained under Jules Chauvet and worked in favour of natural wines. He also has a passion for soft fruit and wanted to establish a raspberry growing farm in eastern Europe. The family domaine still produces blackcurrants in Burgundy.
Ludovic embarked on his solo wine journey in Rajac, Serbia in 2004. Five years after the war, vignerons were using their intuition and instinct, plus sheer resourcefulness in winemaking. Ludovic got the wine bug and his love for natural wine making there. He worked a short time with Emmanuel Giboulot in Burgundy, in 2005, before starting his own Domaine from scratch in 2006. In 2012 he incorporated his Domaine with his family vineyards and in 2013 twinned with his brother.
Ludovic and his brother now farm 16.5 hectares across a stunning collection of vineyards in Maragnes, Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Pommard, complemented by Hautes-Côtes and the family vineyards behind the Citeaux Abbey in Bonnencontre. The first four vintages were made at the family property, but an opportunity presented itself to move in a bigger cellar in Saint-Aubin. Most importantly the brothers share this cellar with Pierre Fenals from Maison En Belles Lies. Pierre has been an extraordinary vinification buddy for Ludovic, helping him to tweak his skills and to perfect the whole bunch usage and vinification with minimal use of sulphur.
The Wines
The 'En Cheignot' plot is on the western side of the Hautes Cotes du Beaune with the village of Auxey-Durresses due east. The vineyard sits just underneath a cliff at 400 meters above sea level, with no top soil and pure limestone patches. You're met with with such soft and elegant textures in this wines with a limestone freshness to the core, all wrapped up with a silky butterscotch finish. The Vineyards are all farmed organically and there is little to no sulphur use in the cellars.
Great things come to those who wait, like our Puligny Montrachet allocation from Bonnardot. These are high in demand and are the smallest production of the Domaine. This Premier Cru La Garenne is on the Blagny side, a little higher up the slopes and therefore lighter soil giving more finesse, than power and weight.
Maranges wines are finally gaining more attention and we adore this fine example from Ludovic. The forty percent whole bunch gives more depth, crunch and texture. The perfect Sunday Roast Pinot Noir if you ask us.
Saint Jean is such a peaceful vineyard. The perfect picnic spot with a tiny brook singing softly at the bottom and the vines are basking in the sunshine looking at the cliffs above the historical Hamlet of Santenay. This is where the sites are all situated, right up next to the Church, a little further up in the valley with more breeze and perfect limestone. All whites at Bonnardot are ethereal, charming and on the mineral front with a saline finish. Ludovic uses oak ageing with the lightest touch as well. Santenay whites especially like this one, should be more popular and should have a space in every wine lovers cellar.
The vineyard of Bonnardot’s Chassagne where inherited by Ludovic's Mum from her godfather. A beautiful plot situated just underneath the Abbaye de Morgeot. It’s a sunny and stoney plot, a little jewel that is organically farmed with use of biodnamie as well. For the winemaking, Ludovic likes a light touch in the cellar, as natural as possible with no use of sulphur, yet the wine is as ethereal and delicate. Buy while you can.