 Having started to work in 1964 at the 4.5 acre estate he co-inherited, he became one of the Directors ten years later. He was also one of the judges at the ‘Judgment of Paris Tasting’ organised by Steven Spurrier, a couple of years later. The Award has been given to him for the leadership role he has played to promote Burgundy as a prime wine region, not only in France but the whole world. DRC makes some of the world’s finest and most expensive wines which age extremely well and are collectors pride.
Addressing him as the ‘father of modern Burgundy’, Sarah Kemp, Decanter's publishing director said, ‘You represent all that we admire in Burgundy. If the reputation of the region has never been higher it is thanks to you, your integrity, devotion to the land and unceasing quest for quality' through which you have inspired us and your neighbours'.
Acknowledging the role he has played to bring the importance of terroir to focus, she reportedly added,’ you represent a Burgundy that has not followed modern fashions or global commercial expediency and a Burgundy that is a byword for artisanship, terroir and authenticity.'
The engraved Decanter given to him as recognition made Aubert quip that he never decanted his wines. Applauding the role played by his fellow producers he said, ‘I want to share this award with you. If Burgundy is doing well today, and quality is higher than ever, it is because of our return to the values that made it famous – the values of terroir. Thirty years ago, terroir was disregarded. Today it is seen as a goal by wine regions across the world.'
Together with his wife Pamela, he owns and runs a domain in Bouzeron named A & P de Villaine. This Domaine has extensive plantations of Aligoté and the couple was part of the campaign to create a separate appellation for the Aligoté wines of Bouzeron, which succeeded in 1998, when Bouzeron AOC was created. He is also involved in Hyde de Villaine, a highly regarded winery in Carneros in California.
He was also one of the five ‘godfathers’ who supported the first ever world wine symposium dubbed as Davos of Wine, held at Lake Como in October last year-along with Egon Müller (Egon Müller- Scharzhof, Mosel), Angelo Gaja (Gaja, Barbaresco), Alain Vauthier (Chateau Ausone, St. Emilion) and Pablo Alvares (Vega Sicilia, Ribera del Duero). For details of the Symposium, click
http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_6_334.aspx
No prizes for guessing that the event was sponsored by the UK distributors of DRC, where some excellent wines from the Domaine DRC were on offer and included Le Montrachet 2003, La Tâche 1991, Fine de Bourgogne 1991 and Romanée-Conti 1971, Fonseca 1963 and Salon Le Mesnil 1997 ( magnum).
http://www.decanter.com
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