In Burgundy, Philippe Cordonnier created his estate all by himself

Philippe Cordonnier did not come from a family of winemakers. Yet, passionate and determined, he patiently created his estate in the commune of Corgoloin in Burgundy. Today, Philippe cultivates his grapes, harvests them, and makes his wines.

2009: Philippe Cordonnier embarks on the wine adventure

Philippe discovered winemaking at the age of 16. During his mandatory work experience placement in 9th grade, he spent a week in the vineyards of a neighboring estate and never wanted to leave. " I spent a week at an estate, I loved it immediately, and I decided I wanted to work in the vineyards. I worked at the estate for four years during my apprenticeship at the Beaune wine school. Then I stayed on ," the winemaker tells us.

In 2009, he and his wife decided to relocate. They moved a little further from the estate and found an 80-are plot of vines to lease. This marked the beginning of his winemaking career.

“ I was working part-time at the same time for another winegrower. With these two activities, I was able to gradually develop my estate ,” explains Philippe.

The estate's development is happening step by step: " From 2009 to 2014, I took my entire harvest to Maison Bichot in Beaune because I didn't have the premises to make wine under good conditions. During that time, I was able to buy the equipment and build my winery for the 2015 harvest. "

Today, the Philippe Cordonnier estate covers 2.5 hectares, includes a cellar, a modern winery, a shop and plots spread over several appellations.

Philippe Cordonnier: " My goal: to have perfect grapes "

Philippe's vineyard is cultivated sustainably and with the utmost respect for the terroir. " My philosophy: I work without herbicides or insecticides. I work the soil with plowing and a pickaxe ," the winemaker assures.

As the Burgundian reminds us, there's no secret to properly working one's vineyard: " I'm in my vineyards every day. I know perfectly well what's working well and what isn't. "

The key to a successful campaign? "You have to manage the size, the yield, aerate the bunches to avoid rot. Every step is important. My goal is to have perfect grapes ," explains Philippe.

A necessary prerequisite for making good wine: " Having a very healthy harvest to limit the doses of SO2 in the wines ," says the winemaker.

The wines of Domaine Philippe Cordonnier: the typicity of Burgundy's terroirs

" I want to make wines that reflect who I am. I let nature and the grapes do their thing: what will come out of it will come out of it," such is the winemaker's precept.

Add to that the incredible opportunity to work on rich and unique terroirs favorable to the cultivation of perfect grapes: " My plots are in the Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligoté , Côtes de Beaune, Haute Côtes de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits village appellations. "

The wines are vinified separately in small vats. To ensure the quality of the wines, Philippe has invested in a modern winery: a refrigeration unit, a sorting table… combined with a friendly, family atmosphere: “ I harvest with friends and family. Everything is harvested by hand, in small crates of 15 to 20 kg. The grapes are sorted first in the vineyard and then a second time in the cellar.”

The wines are then aged in barrels for a few months to refine their profiles. Philippe seeks the optimal balance: " I don't want to make a wine that's too oaky. I want to maintain the balance of the fruit. I introduce oaky notes that must complement this fruit. "

The results speak for themselves: red wines with silky tannins, a fruity rosé with a refreshing character, and a white wine with toasty and buttery aromas. The 2015 wines—his first vintage—have already won medals at competitions, proof that wine lovers appreciate the Burgundian's wines.

Our favorite wines from Domaine Jouvente:
Bourgogne Aligoté "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 - White
Burgundy "Pinot Noir" 2017 - Red
Côte de Nuits-Villages 2015 - Red

The Philippe Cordonnier estate: projects for wine quality and ambitions

" For the next vintage, I would like to stop filtering and fining. I find that these practices alter the wines. The fewer products you use, the more natural it is, the better the wine. It should be able to make itself ," explains Philippe.

He is also considering an expansion project. A more complicated project, since the Burgundy vineyards have become inaccessible: " Buying vines here is impossible ," the farmer observes. For a winemaker in Burgundy, access to land is utopian; one solution remains: " I would like to set up a négociant business, buy grapes and make the wine myself. I would only work with winegrowers I know and who have high-quality vines. It's the best compromise, " Philippe concludes.

A domain creation that was undoubtedly successful.

Manon Mouly (for Les Grappes )