Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi
Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi (formerly Château de Santenay) was once the majestic stately home of the first Duke of Burgundy. This historic estate is one of Burgundy's most prestigious producers with its colorful glazed roof tiles. Working in a very natural way, they farm their 200+ acres of vineyards throughout the Côte d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise. Their wines are distinctive and reflect the delicate complexities of each unique vineyard site.
The Château was built in the 9th, 12th and 16th centuries. It was formerly one of several properties belonging to the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Bold (1342-1404), and was named after him for centuries to come. In 1395, Philippe le Bold signed the founding document for single varietal cultivation in Burgundy. The document was named the “Ordinance of Philip the Bold”. Pinot Noir thus Gamay replaced as the varietal used for red wine production in Burgundy.
For the last 20 years, the domaine has been taking an environmentally-friendly approach to growing, proving itself to be a true pioneer in this respect. It has been TERRA VITIS certified since 2004 and was certified by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2009 for its use of sustainable growing methods. In 2015, it was one of the first wine domains to receive 'High Environmental Value' (HEV 3) certification respecting a new set of specifications issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture. In 2016, the domaine set up an apiary close to the vineyards in order to verify that the techniques used were harmless to bees, which are very sensitive to the environment. Plans are already in place to introduce more hives.
"Our objective of enhancing the diversity and subtleties of our 'climates' lies at the heart of our winemaking philosophy. From the vineyards right through to bottling, every effort is made to ensure that quality remains the top priority. Our white wines possess exceptional aromatic purity, precision and elegance. Our red wines reveal the depth of the Pinot Noir varietal with a rich palette of red and black fruit aromas. experienced and dedicated winemakers bring their know-how and passion to the winemaking process."
"The Château's vat house has a vinification capacity for 5,000 hectoliters of wine. Our state-of-the-art winemaking facilities ensure the highest quality possible and allow us to bring out the true potential of the terroirs whilst respecting the raw material and optimizing every stage of the winemaking process. Our latest generation presses ensure gentle extraction. The facilities provide us with optimum temperature control throughout the vatting and aging cycle. up to 1,600 barrels."