Domaine La Croix Montjoie
Domaine La Croix Montjoie was established in 2009 by Sophie and Matthieu Woillez. The estate is named after the crossroads of Vezelay which lies between Chablis and Beaune, in the heart of the Yonne department of northern Burgundy. The estate covers ten hectares in the village of Tharoiseau which is one of the four villages that makes up the Vezelay appellation. Vezelay appellation is very new in the grand scheme of things - being created in 2017. The appellation is solely for white wines made from Chardonnay on the limestone-rich soils found here.
The terroir of the area produce wines that share the chiselled, mineral character of Chablis, which is a mere 30 miles north, with a more expressively fruity character, due some clay also being found here. There is a gorgeously fresh, lemony tension found in the wines of La Croix Montjoie - think Chablis but with more generosity. Adding to this, Vézelay has a slightly different climate, mainly thanks to the Morvan, a mountainous massif lying just to the south, the northerly extension of the Massif Central. These large forests have a marked cooling influence here and increase the humidity which can see the harvest kicking off a week later than in neighbouring Chablis.
Sophie Woillez’ grandparents were winegrowers in Beaujolais and after agriculture and œnology studies Sophie and Matthieu Woillez worked in Sauternes and the Rhône valley, but soon realised they wanted something of their own. They found a beautiful vineyard in Tharoiseau which was well-planted and with excellent exposure, and so took the leap, making the wine out of an old farmhouse that belonged to the château in Tharoiseau.
Domaine La Croix Montjoie are among the very few in Burgundy to have all their vines in one single parcel. Up behind the winery, just 400 metres away, is what looks like a miniature version of the Corton hill where they have ten hectares, exposed south and southeast. Farming is certified organic and the soil is limestone and clay, more clay than limestone. From this single parcel they produce four wines – three cuvées of Bourgogne Vézelay and a Crémant de Bourgogne.
