Sylvain Pataille

Sylvain Pataille, a fortysomething vigneron in Marsannay, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting revelations of this area in recent times. He’s no recent arrival, though, he just knew how to be patient, start small, and grow: from 1 hectare in 1999, the estate now has 17... The estate was certified organic in 2008, but Pataille lost his certification in 2016, to his great chagrin, following a desperate vine treatment to save his harvest in the face of nature’s fury. Certified or not, the quality of the wines produced is superb, his approach is increasingly precise, the work he does with his Aligoté vines simply spectacular! With his funky haircut, his purple labels and his extremely reasonable prices – in the land of unreasonable prices! – Sylvain is today indispensable in our cellars. We love his healthy, sound approach to wine, characterised by his impressive work ethic, minimal sulphur, and long, perfectly mastered barrel ageing.