Maison Roche de Bellene is the négociant house established in 2008 by Nicolas Potel, one of Burgundy’s most dynamic and respected winemakers. After gaining experience at his family’s estate, Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, and later through his own projects, Potel created Roche de Bellene to focus on producing wines that represent the breadth and diversity of Burgundy, from regional appellations to grand crus.
The philosophy behind Maison Roche de Bellene is clear: to offer authentic, terroir-driven wines made from sustainably farmed old vines, sourced from trusted growers across the Côte d’Or. Many of the parcels come from vines that are 30 to 100 years old, giving natural concentration and complexity to the fruit. Potel works closely with these growers, encouraging practices that favour biodiversity, low yields, and minimal chemical input, ensuring grapes of high quality and strong site expression.
The range is impressively wide, covering Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc through to prestigious crus such as Clos de Vougeot, Échezeaux, and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. Despite this breadth, the aim is consistency and transparency rather than volume. Each wine is intended to reflect its place of origin faithfully, without excessive manipulation in the cellar. Vinification is traditional but careful, with native yeast fermentations, restrained new oak, and minimal intervention, allowing purity and terroir to take centre stage.
Maison Roche de Bellene also complements Nicolas Potel’s Domaine de Bellene, which is based on estate-owned vineyards in Beaune and nearby appellations. Together, these two arms of his work represent a full picture: domaine wines that showcase his own vineyards, and maison wines that highlight the richness of Burgundy through partnerships with other growers.
Today, Maison Roche de Bellene has built a reputation as one of the most reliable and exciting négociant houses in Burgundy, admired for its balance of accessibility and sophistication. Whether in a simple Bourgogne or a grand cru bottling, the wines carry Nicolas Potel’s hallmark of elegance, authenticity, and respect for Burgundy’s extraordinary mosaic of terroirs.