La Sœur Cadette
Since planting their first vineyards in 1987, Jean and Catherine Montanet have been one of the driving forces behind the revitalization of Vézelay as a wine region. The project began as a “cave cooperative”, but in 1999 Jean broke out of the cooperative and formed Domaine de la Cadette, thus creating the best possible basis for making unvarnished wines that best reflect the terroir of Vézelay.
Today, the family runs three separate companies, all of which produce wines according to the same basic principles (see Domaine de la Cadette and Domaine Montanet-Thoden). They work as négociants at La Soeur Cadette partly vinifying some of their own grapes, but also buying grapes from other farmers who share their conscientious work ethic in the vineyard. In the cellar, the approach is low-intervention including no fining or filtration and an absolute minimal addition of sulphur at bottling.
La Soeur Cadette make high-quality Burgundian wines that are still affordable, which is becoming a bit of a rarity. The wines are generally characterized by their elegance, precision and minerality. Many of the cuvées are exclusively aged in steel tanks and some in old barriques.
