Valentin is the son of two winemakers, Jean and Catherine, each owning their own estate: Domaine de la Cadette for his father, and Domaine Montanet-Thoden for his mother. When asked as a child, “Who do you like best, your mum or your dad?” Valentin probably never knew how to choose… As it turns out, since 2010, he has been buying grapes from both family estates to vinify and mature under his own label: La Sœur Cadette.
All the grapes are organically grown and handled in the vathouse with minimal sulphur (the wines can thus be considered natural wines, though Valentin Montanet doesn’t use the label as a banner). Vinification and ageing take place in vats and oak casks, guided by a simple philosophy: “to give the wine the taste of the place where it grew.”
The estate is located in Saint-Père, right next to the village’s beautiful church, where a remarkable 14th-century narthex often surprises visitors who only come for Vézelay La Grande. The tasting room and vathouse now occupy the site of the village’s old petrol station. Where fuel prices once stood, the sign now proudly reads, “La Sœur Cadette.”

Nestled in the heart of Bourgogne Auxerrois, on the foothills of the Morvan, La Sœur Cadette offers up its signature cuvée. Rooted in poor, stony, shallow soils on the southern slope of the Vézelay hill, the Chardonnay vines deliver small, concentrated berries with good ripeness. The grapes are hand-harvested, and the wine is vinified in stainless steel vats, spending 8 to 10 months on the lees.
In the glass, a pale hue with golden highlights catches the eye. The ripe and expressive nose reveals notes of white fruit (pear, apple), candied lemon, and a delicate floral hint. On the palate, a lively attack gives way to a long, mouth-watering saline finish. Perfect with tuna rillettes, goat’s cheese, or salt cod fritters. Best enjoyed young to appreciate its dazzling fruit.