Philippe makes his wines in a modernised winery on the outskirts of Chassagne. Philippe has been vinifying here under his own label since the Domaine Colin-Deleger was divided up between the two brothers, Philippe and Bruno in 2004. When their parents retired, the sons, who previously had been working together at the family property, decided to create their own respective domaines. As Philippe says, this was to allow him to do things “à sa manière”.
Having studied at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune, he joined the family directly afterwards in 1988. He was naturally more draw to working in the vines and the cellar, and it is here he has stayed ever since.
His viticultural practices are much like those of many Burgundians of his generation. His lutte raisonnée is truly reasoned, that is to say he works closely with the Chambre d´Agriculture de la Côte d´Or to reduce the number of treatments used. The soil is tilled to keep weeds at bay and grass cover is encouraged in some parcels where vigour is a problem, to encourage competition, regulate the yield and keep the risk of rot to a minimum.
Leaf plucking is a systematic feature of the viticultural calendar, as is green harvesting. At harvest time, Philippe has a selection table attached to the tractor in the vines (an unusual sight) and another beneath the destalker in the cellar, designed to remove any dried berries and pips.
Philippe likes to bottle his wines early - after 10 to 12 months - to retain freshness and fruity character. His goal is to produce wines that are approachable now, rather than to age.
A note about the négociant business: Philippe´s great-uncle has 2½ha of vines, which he continues to farm himself, although in the same manner as the Colins. Of this land, Philippe buys around 20 pièces-worth of grapes from three different appellations: Montagny, Chassagne Premier Cru les Embrazées, a vineyard in the south of the appellation, abutting the vineyards of Santenay, and Grand Cru Chevalier Montrachet. The wines are then vinified in his cellars in exactly the same way as those of his own holdings
