Bonneau du Martray

Bonneau du Martray is a Burgundy wine estate and producer based in Pernand-Vergelesses in the Côte de Beaune. Its identity is closely tied to the Grand Cru vineyards of Corton and Corton-Charlemagne, and the estate is distinguished by its unusually concentrated portfolio: it produces only two wines from its own Grand Cru holdings. The white wine is made from Chardonnay grown across approximately 9.5 hectares in Corton-Charlemagne, while the red wine is made from Pinot Noir grown on approximately 1.5 hectares in the Corton vineyard. The estate is notable not only for the reputation of its wines but also for the scale and continuity of its Grand Cru holdings. Bonneau du Martray is described as the largest single owner of vines in the Corton-Charlemagne vineyard and as holding the largest area of a single Grand Cru vineyard of any producer in Burgundy. This ownership pattern gives the house an unusually clear relationship between vineyard site, production, and brand identity. Rather than operating as a broad négociant or a diversified wine company, Bonneau du Martray presents itself as a focused domaine whose range is defined by two prestigious vineyard locations and two grape varieties. Jean-Charles de la Moriniere inherited the estate from his father in 1994 and managed it until its sale in 2017. During his tenure, he worked to change vineyard management toward a biodynamic philosophy, moving away from the earlier use of herbicides for weed and pest control. He also pursued lower yields, with the stated aim of increasing the concentration and quality of the finished wines. These changes positioned viticulture and site expression at the center of the estate's development. In 2017, Bonneau du Martray was sold to Stan Kroenke. The transaction changed ownership while preserving the estate's defining production model: a small, highly specialized portfolio based exclusively on Grand Cru vineyards. Public descriptions of the wines have placed the white Corton-Charlemagne among the leading wines of Burgundy. Hugh Johnson has likewise ranked the estate among the leading producers of the Côte d'Or, awarding it his highest four-star classification for exceptional and consistently great quality. Bonneau du Martray's positioning is therefore built on rarity, Grand Cru provenance, limited production scope, and a strong emphasis on vineyard stewardship. Its commercial identity is less about a wide product ladder than about the authority of two site-specific wines from one of Burgundy's most recognized appellation areas.

Bonneau du Martray is a wine-growing estate in Pernand-Vergelesses, in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. The estate's historical and commercial character is defined by its ownership of Grand Cru vineyard land in Corton and Corton-Charlemagne and by its decision to keep production exceptionally narrow. It makes two wines: a white Corton-Charlemagne from Chardonnay and a red Corton from Pinot Noir. The estate owns approximately 9.5 hectares in Corton-Charlemagne and approximately 1.5 hectares in Corton. Its holdings make it the largest single owner of vines in Corton-Charlemagne and give it the largest area of a single Grand Cru vineyard associated with any Burgundy producer, according to the cited reference material. This concentration of land is central to the estate's reputation because it allows Bonneau du Martray to build its identity around a small number of prestigious vineyard sites rather than around a large catalog of appellations. Jean-Charles de la Moriniere inherited the property from his father in 1994 and subsequently directed the estate's management. His approach placed increasing emphasis on vineyard health and lower yields. He worked to move viticultural management toward biodynamic principles and away from the previous reliance on herbicides for weed and pest control. He also reduced yields in an effort to improve the intensity and quality of the wines. These measures connected the estate's production philosophy more closely with the broader Burgundy emphasis on terroir, careful vineyard work, and vintage expression. In 2017, Bonneau du Martray was sold to Stan Kroenke. The sale marked a change in ownership after de la Moriniere's period of management. The available reference material does not identify a separate corporate parent, public listing, or broad international operating structure. The estate remains presented as a focused Burgundy domaine whose output is limited to its two Grand Cru wines. The white Corton-Charlemagne has received particularly strong critical recognition. Clive Coates described it as one of the greatest wines in Burgundy, while Hugh Johnson placed Bonneau du Martray among the leading Côte d'Or producers and awarded the estate four stars, his highest rating, signifying exceptional or great quality sustained across many vintages. These assessments reinforce the brand's position at the high end of Burgundy wine. Bonneau du Martray's history is consequently one of continuity of place and specialization, combined with changes in stewardship and ownership. The estate's distinguishing features are its concentrated Grand Cru land base, two-wine portfolio, movement toward biodynamic vineyard management, and reputation for high-quality Corton-Charlemagne and Corton.

1. 2017Change of ownership

   Bonneau du Martray was sold to Stan Kroenke.

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2. 1994Jean-Charles de la Moriniere inherits the estate

   Jean-Charles de la Moriniere inherited Bonneau du Martray from his father and subsequently managed the estate.

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A highly specialized, premium Burgundy domaine centered exclusively on Grand Cru vineyard holdings, low-yield viticulture, and site-specific Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.

• Corton-CharlemagneGrand Cru white Burgundy

  The estate's white Burgundy is made from Chardonnay grown on approximately 9.5 hectares of Bonneau du Martray's Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru holdings. It is the central white-wine expression of the domaine and a major source of its reputation. The wine reflects the estate's tightly focused ownership of one of Burgundy's most prestigious white-wine sites, together with its efforts to use lower yields and more vineyard-oriented management.

• CortonGrand Cru red Burgundy

  The estate's red Burgundy is made from Pinot Noir grown on approximately 1.5 hectares in the Corton Grand Cru vineyard. It is one of only two wines produced by the domaine and complements the Chardonnay-based Corton-Charlemagne with a red expression of the estate's Grand Cru holdings. Its limited vineyard source reinforces Bonneau du Martray's positioning as a specialized, site-focused Burgundy producer.

• 2017Sale of the estate to Stan KroenkeM&A

  After Jean-Charles de la Moriniere's period as owner and manager, Bonneau du Martray changed ownership in 2017.

  What changed. The estate was sold to Stan Kroenke.

  Aftermath. Bonneau du Martray continued to be identified with its two Grand Cru wines from Corton-Charlemagne and Corton. The available references do not provide further details about post-sale management or investment.

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• 2017Bonneau du Martray sold to Stan Kroenke

  The Burgundy estate changed ownership when it was sold to Stan Kroenke. The estate's Grand Cru-focused production model remained its defining identity.

  M&A
  Source

1. Bonneau du Martray
2. Bonneau du Martray official website