Maxime Oudiette joined his parents' Beaunay estate in 2012. Prior, Maxime spent time working with the iconic Anselme Selosse. He wanted to take what he had learned and develop his own philosophy for winemaking and viticulture. The main focus for Maxime is in the vineyard; creating a symbiotic ecosystem between the vines and the soil. This will create better wines that represent a sense of place. Focusing on an organic and biodynamic diversity, vitiforestry, and permaculture will help the vines be more self-sufficient in adapting to climate changes. After years of crafting his philosophy, Maxime established his own label, Maxime Oudiette in 2018.
His work in the vineyards has been focused on creating a sustainable, diverse ecosystem where the vines can thrive and produce a clear sense of place. The clay and chalk soils generate both freshness and texture, the latter aided by barrel fermentations as well. Within the vineyard, Chardonnay makes up almost the entirety, with a few old-vine Meunier plantings from which he adds about 2% to the rosé, the whole berries added to the Chardonnay near the end of fermentation, creating a beautifully delicate florality to the wine. Les Gras d'Huile is entirely Chardonnay - long, complex and ageworthy.
Since 2021, the wines are certified organic. The vineyards are in the same village of Beaunay in the commune of Celles-Les-Conde. The subsoil in Beaunay is mainly white chalk, from the sedimentation of coccoliths during the upper campanian era..
His wines are transformative. They have incredible texture, length, and when taking a sip of the Gras d’Huile, you can’t help but think about the wine's longevity. The rose is pretty unique as well. It is delicate, aromatic, floral, with the texture and minerality of chardonnay. The care he puts into his vineyards shows. They are full of life and bountiful with natural grasses. In the cellar every step is done by hand. After visiting with him this September, we were happy to learn he will be adding some barrels to add some more wines to the lineup!.
