The encounter happened thanks to a friend who works in the vineyard with Michel. We arrived in Montigny-lès-Arsures, the capital of Trousseau, a stone's throw from Arbois. We discovered his winegrower's house, rooted in the heart of the village. We entered and sat around his table to begin a solemn, timeless tasting.
Michel is one of those discreet personalities, recognized and respected by his peers. He took over the family mixed-farming estate at a very young age, gradually converting it to vineyards, which now span 7.5 hectares. While carefully listening to the advice of his elders, he developed viticulture that respects living organisms and refuses to use synthetic products. In the 80s, he was therefore one of the few to produce wines without inputs, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, beyond social pressures - for his love of the land, of wine.
His hard work bears fruit, and we are witnesses to it. With a quick, hurried step, Michel disappeared into his cellar to retrieve a dusty, label-less bottle. He said nothing, we tasted. There was an incredible energy in this wine, as if it had just come from the vineyard. With a mischievous smile, Michel told us, "This is a 1984 wine."
