Domaine Cottenceau

“Maxime [Cottenceau] has crafted whites of depth and concentration, as well as considerable charm…it’s clear that this will be an address to watch closely over the years to come. Cottenceau seems intent on doing everything necessary to show the world what is actually possible in Montagny, and I encourage importers to beat a path to his door.”

-William Kelley, Wine Advocate

Just south of Givry, in the Côte Chalonnnaise, lies the quaint village of Buxy. Historically, the wines from this village were a favorite of the Cluny monks and today, with its 12 century fortifications still intact, it is the heart and capital of the Montagny appellation. The southeast facing slopes of limestone and clay in this area has always been renowned for its Chardonnay, which is the only allowed variety. Maxime Cottenceau has deep roots in the village, where his family have been grape farmers for generations. After three years of working alongside Vincent Dureuil, one of Burgundy’s finest vignerons, Maxime decided against continuing in his family’s tradition of selling off their grapes and in 2018 started his own domaine from a 2.8 ha inheritance of their finest plots. Under Dureuil’s ongoing friendship and guidance, this rising star works fully organically and allows all of his wines to go through a long 20 month elevage before bottling. And like his mentor, Maxime has created Burgundies of scintillating tension and clear terroir expression.