Maison Nicolas Potel

Nicolas Potel decided to set up his own wine négociant business after the death of his father in 1996 and the subsequent sale of Domaine Pousse d`Or. "When my father died I wanted a change. Pousse d`Or was a great estate so there was nothing to do. Now I`ve had an opportunity to prove myself as a négociant", he says.

However Nicolas parted company with the business that bears his name, now owned by the Cottin brothers, in May 2009. In 2005 he was able to buy some vineyards (the former Domaine Carementrant, in Beaune) though the 2005 and 2006 crops were included in his négociant operation. This concern has been renamed Domaine de Bellene from the 2008 vintage

The Nicolas Potel label has been an excellent source of predominantly red wines, from Bourgogne Rouge to the Grands Crus of the Cote de Nuits. His hallmark has been to make wines which respect both their vineyard provenance and the style of the vintage while remaining attractively priced.