Étienne de Montille

At last, the baton passed between Hubert, the father, and Étienne, the son. Nevertheless, Hubert de Montille is not a man easily replaced. The presence of the father figure is strong, particularly in his winemaking role. Under these conditions, guiding the succession of such a storied domaine is not easy. In fact, when you ask Etienne about his story, he, without hesitation, begins with his father’s extraordinary journey to become one of the greats. As he speaks, the listener can sense the son’s deep respect and admiration for his father. Thus, it was in this unusual environment that Etienne was trained. In Burgundy it is called the school of excellence, that where the great viticulturalists share their secrets and recount their finest moments.

Although his own man, Étienne shares a number of things in common with his father. Like his father, he perpetuated the family tradition of studying law. Etienne went to Sciences Po in Paris and became an attorney advising on mergers and acquisitions before returning to the family domaine. Both are men of character and taste. Both enjoy the indescribable sensation of revealing the true expression of terroir, for example vinifying a Volnay to reveal its finest self-expression, that of a fine, elegant Pinot Noir, distinguished and direct, showing a visceral attachment to its soil. When well-structured, a Volnay, like the other wines, will show the best of itself. You can see a sparkle in the eyes of the craftsman when his wine reaches its fullest expression of complexity. 

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