Domaine Antoine Olivier
Founded at the end of the 1960s, Domaine Antoine Olivier originates in the few vineyards left by Antoine Chevalier Moreau to his grandson Hervé. By purchasing plots and new plantations, the estate stretched out on Santenay then on Savigny-Les-Beaune, Pommard and Nuits-Saint-Georges.
During the development of their activity, the Oliviers endeavoured to cultivate old terroirs, historically renowned for the production of Santenay white wines. These terroirs, abandoned for almost a century for some, have allowed the production of renowned wines. For a few years now, Antoine and Rachel Olivier have been managing all of the activities of the Domaine with one aim: Combining modernity and respect for Burgundian soils; and with the hope that people will enjoy tasting their wines as much as they enjoy making them.
In the vineyard, there is no chemical weeding, they use ploughing, biological control, yield control and manual grape picking in order to obtain the ripest grapes which can fully express the characteristics of their soils.
In the cellar, they systematically and manually sort the grapes, using a long traditional winemaking process, and the maturing of wine is exclusively done in oak barrels. Wine-making processes and the maturing of wine are managed in respect of each appellation and each terroir’s specificities, favouring the expression of finesse and elegance of Pinot Noir and of Chardonnay which are unique grape varieties of the estate.
Antoine Olivier always uses some whole clusters in his red wines (but not in the cuvée “Temps de Cerises” which he recommends should be drunk in its first 3 years). There is no fining or filtration for reds.
Nowadays, Antoine Olivier’s wines are highly rated by many wine critics. Especially Michel Bettane who thinks he is very skilled at making great white wines as well as red.
