Domaines de Ladoucette
Since the late 18th Century, the family of Comte Lafond has owned the largest and most famous vineyards in the Pouilly region, known as the Château du Nozet. This 165 hectare estate produces 10% of the entire Pouilly Fumé appellation.
In 1972 Baron Patrick de Ladoucette took over, concentrating his efforts on wine production, with an emphasis on the importance and the diversity of his estate vineyards. De Ladoucette are acclaimed for producing some of the world’s finest Sauvignon Blancs, including the top cuvée Baron de L, made from the finest parcels on the estate. It is only produced in exceptional years and is one of the few Sauvignons renowned for its ability to age. A £3 million investment was made to improve and modernise the winery at Château du Nozet, to further enhance the unique quality, individual style and consistency of their signature wine; de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé. Wines from de Ladoucette are regarded as some of the finest examples of France’s key wine producing regions, with a reputation for elegance, complexity and quality.
“The great white wines of Ladoucette, [are] considered a world reference of Sauvignon”
Régnard Chablis: Northernmost of the wineries is Chablis Régnard. Maison Régnard is one of the oldest and most prestigious Maisons de Bourgogne, founded in 1860 by Monsieur Régnard. In 1984, the Baron Patrick de Ladoucette took over the Domaine and continued to preserve, yet improve the style and the typicity of the wines. Maison Régnard produces the seven Grands Crus de Chablis (Les Clos, Bougros, Blanchots, Grenouilles, Les Preuses, Valmur and Vaudésir), the five principle Premiers crus (Fourchaume, Montmains, Vaillons, Montée de Tonnerre and Mont de Milieu), Chablis and Petit Chablis.
In 1992, Baron Patrick created Grand Régnard, a special cuvée presented in a unique bottle from a selection of the best plots of Chablis de la Maison. Each year this cuvée is the purest expression of the youth and the fruit of Chablis.
De Ladoucette: Since the end of the 18th Century, the family of the Comtes Lafond had the most important and most famous vineyards of Pouilly Fumé. Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, the great-grandson of Les Comtes Lafond, has continued their tradition of high quality and produces the great white wines of Ladoucette. Adding to 200 years of history, Baron Patrick created a rare cuvée, Baron de L, which truly reflects the terroir and is only produced in exceptional vintages. The Baron de L is recognised as one of the greatest Sauvignon wines of the world due to its extraordinary finesse. Baron Patrick then brought his know-how to the vineyards of Sancerre and continued to replicate the great wines produced by his ancestor in the 18th Century.
Marc Brédif: Founded in 1893 by Monsieur Brédif, Maison Brédif is one of the most well known and respected Maisons in the region and is globally recognised as a hallmark of quality. In 1980, Baron Patrick took over the torch and has instilled a new lease of life into this century-old house, yet has retained much of the tradition and grandeur that makes it an exceptional domain. Maison Brédif is recognised for its Vouvray but also for its delicate, floral wines, and Monsieur Brédif was a pioneer in the world of winemakers, creating sparkling Vouvray from the beginning of the 20th Century. Its ancient cellars, dug in the tuffeau since the 10th Century, are among the most beautiful and the largest of the appellation. They contain very rare wines dating back to 1874. Maison Brédif also produces red and rosé wines in Chinon, including the prestigious cuvée, Chinon Réserve Privée as well as Chinon Blanc.
Sancerre Comte Lafond: The Comte Lafond, ancestor of Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, acquired vineyards in the Loire in the 18th Century. He was originally from Burgundy and decided to diversify his vineyard properties. Since then, Domaine Comte Lafond has continued to flourish and produces white, red and rosé Sancerres. The exceptional quality of these vineyards enabled Baron Patrick to strengthen its position in Sancerre by investing in a vineyard of 35 hectares, including the Orme aux Loups where Pinot Noir is planted exclusively. This enhanced its ability to produce very sophisticated rosé and red Sancerres.
Villa Vallombrosa: The last and Southernmost of the wineries which bears the name of the Duc of Vallombrosa, sister of Baron Patrick de Ladoucette and first member of the Ladoucette family to settle in Provence. The winery’s origins date back to the Roman period, as shown by the remains found in Rome dating from 161-180 AD. The first vines cultivated in France 2000 years ago were in Provence. These vines, present since the Roman Empire, blend the virtues of the limestone soil of the Triassic period with the influences of the red soils of the Permian. The alliance of these two terroirs allows for the production of great rosé wines. Permian soils bring strength and structure to the wines, and the shale of the Massif of the Maures brings a minerality which is both refreshing and elegant. The expertise at Villa Vallombrosa begins as soon as the grapes of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault are carefully harvested. Picking is done meticulously, plot by plot, to prepare the ideal blend for the Vallombrosa Grand Vin. The wine’s fruity and mineral aromas allow it to accompany a variety of Mediterranean dishes.
