France · Burgundy

A. & P. de Villaine

A. & P. de Villaine is the personal estate of Aubert de Villaine — co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti — and his American wife Pamela, established in 1973 when they purchased an 8-hectare domaine in the village of Bouzeron, Côte Chalonnaise. While Aubert's DRC association assured instant credibility, the estate has built an entirely independent reputation as the definitive champion of the Aligoté grape and the benchmark for honest, terroir-driven Chalonnaise winemaking. Aubert was instrumental in the 1997 elevation of Bouzeron to full AOC status — the only village appellation in Burgundy named for the Aligoté grape. Pierre de Benoist, Aubert and Pamela's nephew, has directed the domaine since 2000. The estate now covers three appellations: Bouzeron (Aligoté), Rully, and Mercurey, all farmed organically. At auction, the wines offer exceptional value — La Digoine Bourgogne Rouge and Rully Les Saint-Clou are beloved by collectors who prize authenticity over prestige.