Wine for sale: Prince Florent de Mérode

Owned for centuries by one of Belgium’s great aristocratic families, Domaine Prince Florent de Mérode is one of Burgundy’s most rare and sought-after estates.

Domaine Prince Florent de Mérode, which has belonged to the same family since the late seventeenth century, extends across the appellations of Aloxe-Corton, Corton, Corton-Renardes, Ladoix-Serrigny, Ladoix and Pommard. Located in Ladoix-Serrigny, Château de Serrigny has remained in the family’s hands since 1908, including following the death of Prince Florent in 2008. The family descends from the Princely House of Mérode, one of Belgium’s oldest aristocratic families. Its motto says it all: “More honour than honours!”
True to that philosophy, the estate favours low yields and extremely limited production, crafting only a small number of bottles each year. The quality of its terroirs is perhaps best illustrated by the sale in 2009 of just under half of the estate’s six hectares to Domaine de la Romanée-Cont, which has since been producing its own Corton under the name Corton Grand Cru Prince Florent de Mérode, from parcels in the climats Clos du Roi (0.57 ha), Bressandes (1.2 ha) and Renardes (0.51 ha). An extremely prestigious rarity.