Located in the midst of the most iconic wine communities of the Northern Rhône, this Domaine has vineyards in the top of the top locations. The domain is the oldest still existing wine estate in Chavanay, a tiny hamlet between Condrieu and Saint-Joseph. The history of the estate can be traced back to the 14th century. It was in 1797, after the French Revolution and secularization that Domaine de Boisseyt was formed. For six generations the estate was owned by the Chol family. In 2017, without any heirs, they decided to sell the estate to Oliver Decelle and Pierre-Jean Villa, a local vigneron.
I quote Pierre-Jean Villa: "Côte-Rotie has the historic Côte Brune and Côte Blonde. Our plot was planted in the 1930s and puts us in the heart of the mythic Côte Blonde. The wines are silky, with elegance and finesse, while still having the present tannins, structure and fruit of Syrah."
The Domaine also has plots in great terroirs of Saint-Joseph. The vineyard portfolio also includes the tiny, steep terraced plot of Les Corbonnes in Condrieu. Pierre-Jean Villa says: “The incline is more than 50 percent, all worked manually, of course. And again, it's a very specific terroir in the region”. The new owners want to convert all vineyards to organic viticulture within the near future.
Winemaking partners Olivier Decelle and Pierre-Jean Villa have acquired the historic Rhône estate Domaine de Boisseyt-Chol in Chavanay, a prime Côte-Rôtie spot, from Didier and Agnes Chol. The deal, which will close on Aug. 1, includes 24 acres of vines in multiple parcels. Neither side would disclose a price, but the sale is notable, as top-quality vines in Côte-Rôtie rarely come on the market. When they do, the region's prominent names, such as E. Guigal and M. Chapoutier, often have the inside track on acquiring them.
"Let's just say there was big competition," Pierre-Jean Villa, owner of his namesake domaine in Chavanay, told Wine Spectator.
Decelle was an heir to the French frozen-food chain Picard Surgelés, and now owns Bordeaux châteaus Jean Faure in St.-Emilion and Haut-Maurac in the Médoc, as well as the Languedoc-Roussillon estate Mas Amiel. In Burgundy, Decelle and Villa are already partners as grower-négociants at Decelle-Villa, which they set up in a historic cellar in Nuits-Saint-Georges in 2009, farming 20 acres biodynamically.
Villa produces 5000 cases annually from his own vines planted in Côte-Rotie, Condrieu, St.-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Vin de Pays.
It was more than Decelle's deep pockets that sealed the Boisseyt-Chol deal. Villa grew up across from de Boisseyt-Chol, which has been in the Chols' family since 1797. Didier and Agnes have decided to retire, and their children did not want to take over. They chose to sell to a partnership that included a talented, modest local vigneron and appreciated that the acquisition would allow for transmission to the next generation in Villa's family.
At Domaine de Boisseyt (the new owners will drop “Chol” from the name), Villa will work with his technical director Justin Prudhomme. De Boisseyt has an annual production of 5,000 cases produced from 24 acres spread among Côte-Rotie, Condrieu, St.-Joseph and Vin de Pays. The estate has underperformed in recent years, but owns some legendary Rhône plots.
"Côte-Rotie has the historic Côte Brune and Côte Blonde. This plot was planted in the 1930s and puts us in the heart of the mythic Côte Blonde," said Villa. "The wines are silky, with elegance and finesse, while still having the present tannins, structure and fruit of Syrah."
The acquisition also comes with plots of Les Rivoires in St.-Joseph—“a magnificent terroir," according to Prudhomme—and the tiny, steep terraced vineyards of Les Corbonnes in Condrieu. "The incline is more than 50 percent, all worked manually, of course. And again, it's a very specific terroir in the region," said Villa.
Both Decelle and Villa are committed to sustainability. "We're giving ourselves five years to convert the vineyards to organic viticulture," said Villa.
Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours (Issued and Forthcoming Postings)
Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History
Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France
The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône
Dinner at a Historic (Second Empire) Café-Brasserie in Lyon: Grand Café des Négociants - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Drive at E. Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Visit and Tasting at Domaine de Boisseyt in Chavany, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Beau Rivage in Condrieu, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Dinner at Hôtellerie Beau Rivage in Condrieu, with Chef Chef Ludovic Mounier - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting at Vins Jean-Luc Colombo with Anne Colombo in Cornas, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting at Vins Jean-Luc Colombo in Cornas, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Visit and Tasting at Domaine du Tunnel with Owner/ Winemaker Stéphane Robert in Saint-Peray, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at Restaurant Le Quai (Michelin/ Bib Gourmand) in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Visit and Tasting at Domaine Les Bruyères with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Les Bruyères in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at Maison Chabran - La Grand Table with Chef Louis Chabran and his Father Chef Michel Chabran in Pont d l’Isère, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at La Grand Table de Michel Chabran, 1-star Michelin, in Pont d l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Chef Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud with Owner/ Winemaker Valérie Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Visit and Tasting at Domaine André Berthet-Rayne in Cairanne, Southern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting of the Wines of Château de Beaucastel at Domaine du Clos des Tourelles in Gigondas - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant L’Oustalet (1* Michelin guide) in Gigondas, with Chef Laurent Deconinck - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Visit and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers with Jean Claude and Philippe Lambert in Sablet, Southern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at Restaurant La Maison de Celou (Michelin Bib Gourmand) in Châteauneuf-de-Cadagne - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
In Les Baux de Provence: Visit of the Olive Oil Mill Moulin Castelas and Overnight Stay and Dinner Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivier - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Dinner and Overnight-stay at Hôtel/ Restaurant Benvengudo in Les Baux de Provence - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Arles: City Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
At the Pont du Gard: Lunch at Restaurant Les Terrasses and Sightseeing at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Lunch at Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Avignon: Guided Tour of Pont Saint-Bénézet, the so-called ‘Pont d’Avignon’, and the Palace of the Popes - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Beaurenard in Châteauneuf-du Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Vineyard and Cellar Tour at Vignobles Alain Jaume, Domaine Grand Veneur, with Hélène Jaume in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Wine-pairing Lunch at La Table d’Alain Jaume with Hélène Jaume at Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting at Domaine de La Solitude in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pegau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pégau in Châteauneuf du Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Tasting of Châteuneuf-du-Pape Wines at La Cave de Mathias with Mathias in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Wine-pairing Dinner and Overnight-stay at Hôstellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Dinner and Overnight-stay at Hôstellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France