“We had been looking for a vineyard of similar quality for making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in the United States,”
AXA Millesimes Managing Director Christian Seely
AXA Millesimes, the wine property arm of insurance giant AXA, has added another grape asset to its portfolio.
Platt Vineyard is located on the far western reaches of California’s prized Sonoma Coast.
AXA Millesimes Managing Director Christian Seely elaborates.
“After acquiring the great Cabernet vineyards of Outpost Winery at the summit of Howell Mountain in 2018, we had been looking in the United States for a vineyard of similar quality for making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
“Our attention was drawn to the exceptional quality of the terroir of Platt Vineyard by Thomas Rivers Brown, who is and has been for many years our Consultant Winemaker at Outpost Vineyard.”
Platt Vineyard comprises 111 hectares, of which 15.7 hectares are planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Located in California’s Sonoma Coast, it is about 13 km from the Pacific Ocean
A self-taught winemaker, 50-year old Brown has been making highly regarded Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from fruit he purchased from Platt Vineyard under his own label Rivers-Marie since the early 2000s. (The brand uses Brown’s middle name and that of his companion, Genevieve Marie Welsh).
Christian Seely picks up the story.
“After tasting these wines and after several visits to Platt we were convinced that this was the site we had been looking for. Since 1987 we have owned and managed Domaine de l’Arlot in Burgundy, a 15-hectare property of mostly Premier Cru terroir in Nuits St Georges and Premier Cru in Vosne Romanee and Grand Cru Romanee St Vivant.”
Platt Vineyard comprises 111 hectares, of which 15.7 hectares are planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (with permits for a further 4.5 vineyard hectares). The soil is Goldridge fine sandy loam, covering an ancient sea bed and about 13 km from the Pacific Ocean.
AXA Millesimes is also proprietor of Chateau Pichon Baron, Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Pibran, Quinta do Noval, Quinta do Passadouro, and Disznoko.