Catherine & Dominique Derain
Catherine & Dominique Derain are biodynamic producers in Burgundy with vines in a number of different Burgundian appellations.
Dominique Derain started his career making wine barrels but decided, instead, to study wine making in Beaune. In 1988 he and his wife Catherine purchased 5.5 hectares of vineyards in Saint Aubin just south of Beaune and began tending the vines biodynamically and making their wines in a non-interventionist way as well.
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 but do not command anywhere near their price.
The wines are certified biodynamic by Ecocert.
Catherine & Dominique Derain Bourgogne Les Riaux Rouge 2010
This is a stunning entry level red with the vines thriving on the Puligny-Montrachet plains quite close to the Aligoté vines. But, the yields here are painfully low at only 30 hectolitres per hectare so expect this red to have good fruit flavours and good structure.
And by the way, the vineyard is tiny at less than half a hectare!
RRP: SOLD OUT
Catherine & Dominique Derain St-Aubin Le Ban Rouge 2008
The vines here thrive on an east facing slope covered in limestone derived
clay and gravel.
This is a lovely wine with an appealing cherry and strawberry fruit flavour, a core of acidity, great freshness, an underlying spiciness and perfect balance. Great drinking now.
RRP: $52
Catherine & Dominique Derain St-Aubin Le Ban Rouge 2009
The new vintage from the Derain vineyard! The 2009 reflects the vintage which
was one of the best in recent memory.
The vines here thrive on an east facing slope covered in limestone derived clay and gravel.
This is a lovely wine with an appealing cherry and strawberry fruit flavour, a core of acidity, great freshness, an underlying spiciness and perfect balance. Great drinking now.
RRP: $54
Catherine & Dominique Derain Mercurey La Plante Chassey Rouge 2008
This is an interesting cuvee because it has a small amount of Pinot Beurot
(Malvoisie, Pinot Gris)
blended with the dominant Pinot Noir. (Incidentally, Pinot Liébault is also
permitted in this appellation). La Plante Chassey is a south-east slope with
clay soil. The grapes for this wine are harvested by hand
and the wine is fermented in wooden vats before being transferred to old wooden
barrels for 18 months. The wine is not fined or filtered before bottling.
When you taste this wine you will discern notes of cherries raspberries and citrus peel and some herbaciousness. You will also notice the length of the finish. This wine has a lovely silkiness and earthiness about it that we find very appealing.
RRP: $61
Catherine & Dominique Derain Mercurey La Plante Chassey Rouge 2009
This is an interesting cuvee because it has a small amount of Pinot Beurot (Malvoisie, Pinot Gris) blended with the dominant Pinot Noir. (Incidentally, Pinot Liébault is also permitted in this appellation). La Plante Chassey is a south-east slope with clay soil. The grapes for this wine are harvested by hand and the wine is fermented in wooden vats before being transferred to old wooden barrels for 18 months. The wine is not fined or filtered before bottling.
When you taste this wine you will discern notes of cherries raspberries and citrus peel and some herbaciousness. You will also notice the length of the finish. This wine has a lovely silkiness and earthiness about it that we find very appealing.
RRP: $63
Catherine & Dominique Derain St-Aubin 1st Cru Le Puits Rouge 2008
This vineyard is quite close to the village of Saint Aubin and the soils here are white clay. But it is tiny at only .12 hectares. The wine is very delicate and quite elegant while having an underlying power and persistence and good tannic structure.
RRP: $70
Catherine & Dominique Derain Pommard Les Petits Norizons Rouge 2008
There is lots of limestone here because it is quite close to one of our favourite villages in Burgundy, namely Pommard! Lovely, strong, structured deep-red wine!
RRP: $85
Catherine & Dominique Derain Pommard Les Petits Norizons Rouge 2009
There is lots of limestone here because it is quite close to one of our favourite villages in Burgundy, namely Pommard! Lovely, strong, structured deep-red wine!
RRP: $86
Catherine & Dominique Derain Gevrey-Chambertin En Vosne Rouge 2008
The vines here are 85 years old! Therefore there is structure and depth of
flavour coming from them. This is a superb wine of considerable complexity and
great elegance. At a number of recent tastings this has been a stand out
wine that has charmed all who have tried it. It is a beautiful Burgundy at a very
reasonable price for a Gevrey Chambertin.
RRP: $89
Catherine & Dominique Derain Gevrey-Chambertin En Vosne Rouge 2009
The vines here are 85 years old! Therefore there is structure and depth of flavour coming from them. This is a superb wine of considerable complexity and great elegance. At a number of recent tastings this has been a stand out wine that has charmed all who have tried it. It is a beautiful Burgundy at a very reasonable price for a Gevrey Chambertin.
RRP: $91
RRP: Catherine & Dominique Derain Bourgogne Aligoté 2009
Aligoté is a particular favourite of ours. We love wines made from this grape that is
beloved by Burgundians - many of whom consume it daily. The wines range from the
rustic to the ethereal. It is unfiltered
so the wine can be cloudy in the glass. It is fermented with native yeasts so it is
alive and vibrant and completely compelling.
The very old vines for this wine are on the Puligny-Montrachet plains. A lovely wine for summer drinking.
RRP: SOLD OUT
Catherine & Dominique Derain Bourgogne La Combe Blanc 2009
The vines for this lovely Chardonnay are located close to the village of
Puligny-Montrachet where there is deep brown soil. The yield is only 35
hectolitres per hectare and this means the fruit is packed with flavour and the
wine reflects this. La Combe is a tiny plot being less than one third of a
hectare.
This is a wine for contemplating. It opens up slowly in the glass, but then reveals an array of flavours and aromas that are truly compelling. This is a lovely, expressive Chardonnay.
RRP: $43
Catherine & Dominique Derain Bourgogne La Combe Blanc 2010
The vines for this lovely Chardonnay are located close to the village of Puligny-Montrachet where there is deep brown soil. The yield is only 35 hectolitres per hectare and this means the fruit is packed with flavour and the wine reflects this. La Combe is a tiny plot being less than one third of a hectare.
This is a wine for contemplating. It opens up slowly in the glass, but then reveals an array of flavours and aromas that are truly compelling. This is a lovely, expressive Chardonnay.
RRP: $46
Catherine & Dominique Derain St-Aubin 1er Cru "En Remilly 2008
This delicious premier cru Chardonnay is made from vines in the En Remilly
lieu dit which lies on the rocky, sunny slopes of Montrachet. The yield is
relatively low at 38 hectolitres per hectare. The wine is both powerful and
elegant making it perfect for aging - however it is also drinking nicely now.
RRP: $76
Catherine & Dominique Derain St-Aubin En Vesvau Blanc 2010
This delicious Chardonnay is made from vines in the En Vesvau lieu dit which lies on the rocky, sunny slopes of Montrachet. The yield is relatively low at 38 hectolitres per hectare. The wine is both powerful and elegant making it perfect for aging - however it is also drinking nicely now.
RRP: $63