Domaine La Croix Montjoie

Domaine La Croix Montjoie was established in 2009 by Sophie and Matthieu Woillez, named after the crossroads of Vezelay, located in the Yonne department in northern Burgundy. 

The estate covers ten  hectares in the village of Tharoiseau, one of the four villages that makes up the Vezelay appellation, which was created in 2017 and is exclusively for white wines. 

The wines here share the chiselled, mineral character of Chablis, which is a mere 30 miles north, with a more expressively fruity character, due to the clay rich soils. There is a gorgeously fresh, lemony tension found in the best wines - think Chablis but with more generosity. 

Compared with Chablis the area around 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. The large forests have a cooling influence on the climate and increases humidity. Because of this harvests tend to start a week later than in 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 vineyard in Tharoiseau. Well-planted vines, beautiful location with excellent exposure - perfect! The only problem was there was no winery, as the owner of the vineyard was selling all his grapes to the négociants. Luckily they found suitable facilities at the old farm 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.