Domaine de Rochebin

The story of Domaine de Rochebin starts in 1921 when the Marillier family first established the estate in Azé, a small village in the heart of the Mâconnais. The location is special. Azé sits at 450 meters altitude on a hilltop overlooking the Saône plain. The village is famous for its prehistoric caves, and the domaine's coat of arms features a lion skull as a nod to the great lion discovered in one of these ancient caves. The vineyards here have deep roots. Most of the parcels belonged to the Abbey of Cluny, where monks were already working the vines back in the year 1000. The estate fully committed to viticulture in 1972, leaving behind mixed farming to focus entirely on wine.

The terroir is what makes these wines interesting. The 50-plus hectares spread across Mâcon-Azé and Mâcon-Lugny appellations sit on diverse soils. You'll find limestone, soft marl, clay-limestone, and very stony, shallow soils on the slopes. This geological diversity allows the estate to grow all four classic Burgundy grape varieties. The vineyard includes 15 hectares of Chardonnay, 6 hectares of Pinot Noir, 14 hectares of Gamay, and 5 hectares of Aligoté. The vines benefit from east to southwest exposures, helping the grapes reach optimal ripeness in this slightly warmer corner of Burgundy.

Today, Mickaël Marillier runs the estate alongside his father Jean-Pierre, who represents the third generation on the property. Mickaël joined in 1991 and handles vineyard management, sales, and administration. Laurent Chardigny came aboard in 2008 as a partner, taking charge of winemaking and order preparation. The three men share a clear philosophy summed up in two words: listening and tradition. They practice sustainable viticulture with grassed plots between the vines. Some parcels are currently being converted to organic certification. The approach in the cellar is hands-off. White wines ferment at low temperatures to preserve aromatics, and aging happens either in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels depending on the cuvée.

The wines from Rochebin are made for pleasure, not for cellaring decades. They're meant to be enjoyed young, between 2 and 5 years, expressing fresh fruit and floral notes. The portfolio covers the full spectrum. You'll find Mâcon-Azé and Mâcon-Villages whites from Chardonnay, showing citrus, yellow fruit, and mineral touches. The reds include Mâcon-Azé from Gamay with its cherry color and red berry aromas, plus Pinot Noir bottlings under the Bourgogne appellation. There's also Bourgogne Aligoté for those who like bright, crisp whites. Special cuvées like the Mâcon-Lugny Tête de Cuvée and award-winning bottlings from Mâcon-Igé round out the range. These are honest, approachable wines that show what the Mâconnais does best.