Nicolas Potel
Author: Jasper Morris MW
The sad news this month is that Nicolas Potel has parted company from the negociant house which bears his name, owned by the Cottin brothers of Maison Labouré-Roi. Nicolas, son of the late Gérard Potel of Domaine de la Pousse d’Or in Volnay, is one of Burgundy’s most dynamic figures – not just in terms of the wines he has made over the last ten years but also for his absolute passion for his native region, its vineyards and its wines. It is a wonderful treat to hear him talk about one of his new releases while tasting it from the barrel, or to share a beautiful old bottle crafted by his father.
Exactly what this news means for the future is not yet quite clear but it might be worth clarifying the various Potel labels in circulation at present.
Domaine Potel: Nicolas began to operate his own domaine, based in Beaune, from the 2007 vintage. This business is entirely independent of the Cottin brothers and is in no way affected by the latest news.
Maison Nicolas Potel refers (up to now) to negociant wines made by Nicolas Potel and his team in Nuits St Georges. At this stage the Nicolas Potel name remains with the Cottin brothers.
Séléction Nicolas Potel: covers wines sourced by Nicolas from various old cellars in Burgundy, though he has had no hand in their production.
Does Maison Potel include Potel-Aviron wines from Beaujolais villages or is this a separate business as well?
http://www.frederickwildman.com/wildmansite/wmphp/winery.php3
No, my understanding is that Potel-Aviron is not affected as this is a separate, stand alone business.
So does this mean tha Nicholas Potel no longer has access to the grand crus such as Echezeaux and Bonnes Mares etc?
It is not yet clear but we will advise as soon as we find out.
It is unlikely that these same wines will be made in the future by Nicolas Potel under the Nicolas Potel label, but they may be made either by Nicolas under a different label or by somebody else under the Nicolas Potel label.
I don’t suppose that helps much at this stage!
Jasper
My understanding is that Stéphane Aviron bought out the part that was not owned by him, though I’m not sure if the wines will remain labeled Potel – Aviron or not.
Gebrüder Cottin apparently plan to continue Maison Nicolas Potel with a slightly reduced range (they will say more focused) and under the same winemaker (Fabrice Lesne) who has made the (very nice) whites over the last years and has been number 2 to Nicolas on the reds also. The team currently believe that the business in terms of sourcing, contracts and wine-making/style will continue as before.
Let’s see…
PS Was more of a shock that the Cottins decided to call time on the Terres d’Arômes venture with Claire Forestier that they were funding!
Thanks for the update, Bill.
We are monitoring what we hear, and what we see, and waiting for it all to settle down again. I agree with you about Claire.
Jasper
im very sad to hear this! i worked the 2008 harvest with potel! his domaine wines are beautiful and its weird to think nico wont be apart of masion potel.
At least we shall have the wonderful wines from his domaine, which you picked, Jenna. I have just tasted them last week and they show great potential.
hello Jasper, does Nico himself now have no wines to sell?
He has all his own domaine wines to sell.
Any previous wines made as Nicolas Potel are the property of the Cottin brothers who will I imagine continue to sell them.
I imagine Nicolas has irons in other fires which we will doubtless get to hear about shortly.
Jasper
I was representing Maison Nicolas Potel here in Canada but I’d like to follow Nicolas to his Domaine. Would it be possible for somebody to send me his e-mail address?