Antonin Rodet

International Wine Challege 2014: excellence rewarded

The wine House Antonin Rodet can claim a total of 7 medals obtained at the 2014 edition of International Wine Challenge, the prestigious international contest. With an average of 12000 international wines tasted by a qualified jury mainly made of Masters of Wine, the contest is one of the most important in this field and rewards each year the best wines in the world.

Silver medallists: Viré-Clessé l’Epinet 2012, Mercurey Héritage 2012 and Mercurey 1er Cru Sazenay Château de Mercey 2012. The quality of Rully 1er Cru La Bressande Château de Rully 2012, Rully 1er Cru Molesme Château de Rully, Rully 1er Cru Préaux Château de Rully 2012 and Santenay Château de Mercey 2012 has also been recognised by a bronze medal.

These awards reflect Anne-Laure Hernette and her team everyday work of precision in the winery and in the cellar. They manage to unveil the richness and complexity of South Burgundy terroir and to reach the high level of excellence that International Wine Challenge jury is looking for.

Our House Antonin Rodet has been rhyming with Mercurey since 1875, the year of the founding of the House, by Antoine Rodet, known as Antonin.

His father, Francois was a grocer in Chalon-sur-Saone and a clever businessman and quickly added the trade of wine-broker to his various activities. Chalon-sur-Saone at this time was an important hub in the wine trade. The town, in the 19th Century, with the arrival of the railway and important river traffic, experienced an important economic boom. The young Antoine thus learned about business dealings at a young age.

However, it was his marriage to Marie-Francoise Adenot, the daughter of a farming family based close to Mercurey which triggered the foundation of the future wine-merchant Antonin Rodet because the young woman’s inheritance provided Antoine with considerable land, which gave a framework to his new company.  Antoine did not hesitate to invest in the vineyard, despite the phylloxera epidemic.

Upon the death of Antoine, his son Antonin then aged 25, succeeded him at the head of the family business. At the time, Maison Antonin Rodet was a flourishing wine-merchant in full expansion. A businesss traveller since he was 16 years old, Antonin possessed experience of groundwork which he put to good use in bringing Maison Antonin Rodet into international markets. His youth and dynamism were major factors in the commercial development and enhanced reputation of his wines.

From generation to generation, although the Rodet family is no longer involved, the spirit of Antonin and his father lives on : fierce defenders of the vineyard of Southern Burgundy to which they dedicated their lives.

Our House works with the grapes from the vineyard to the wine in the bottle. Primarily from our own wine estates but also from quality local growers who strictly follow our Charter of Quality. These partnerships result in the obtention of the finest grapes and musts. These same principles apply to our estate wines, insisting on limited yields, responsible and sustainable viticulture (environmentally-friendly growing).

White wine vinification

Strict sorting process ( firstly in the vineyard and then on the winery sorting table).

Pneumatic pressing of whole bunches of grapes.

Settling process in tank over 24 hours.

Ageing in French oak barrels for 8 to 10 months depending on the appellation (with 20% to 25% new oak).

 Ageing on lees with must-beating.

Red wine vinification

Strict sorting process ( firstly in the vineyard then on the winery sorting table)

50 % crushing and de-stemming up to 100%

Traditional Burgundy vinification in stainless-steel tanks. Depending on the vintage and terroir :

Cold pre-fermentation maceration( grapes cooled to 12/13° C. for 2 to 4 days) in order to preserve fruit aromas.

Cap-punching once or twice daily and pumping-over every second day.

Long even fermentation (about 20 days)

Ageing in French oak barrels for 10 to 15 months depending on the appellation ( with 20% to 25% new oak)

In the heart of the village, the Clos Antonin Rodet is an island of greenery and elegance, which encapsulates the South Burgundy way of life. This imposing 17th century building has a typical Burgundian roof of glazed tiles.  The elegant rooms look out onto a magnificent English-style garden, offering a haven of peace in the midst of century-old trees.

As one strolls around the garden, one can discover the former greenhouse, whose glass structure was made by a contemporary of Gustave Eiffel. Just nearby are the former stables that have now been converted into a charming tasting room where visitors can browse among a selection of wines from the Maison and its various estates.