Catharina Sadde has never been one to sit back and watch life pass her by. Strong-willed, hardworking and opinionated, she’s certainly had an atypical career trajectory. Born in Germany she began her career as a chef in a starred restaurant but left after working a harvest in the Nahe. She then trained at Geisenheim, the renowned wine school in Germany and studied vitculture and oenology in Montpellier. From 2010 - 2018 she acquired a rather extraordinary resume through her experiences within some of the greatest Burgundy estates: Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Comte Armand, Marquis d'Angerville, Comte Vogue, Cécile Tremblay and then a short stint as an intern at Becky Wasserman Company.

What she discovered during this time was that she didn’t want to work for someone else; she was looking for her own project. So at the beginning of 2018, she jumped at the opportunity to buy a parcel from Prévolles in Beaune, and continued to buy several parcels in Volnay and Pommard for a total of 1.3 ha.- launching Domaine Les Horées in 2019. The name "Les Horées" derives from Greek mythology and Catharina describes "Les Horées" as marking the change in seasons. Everything is done manually, with care, horse plowing following the biodynamic principles. She gives “free rein to her intuition and her perceptions,” and her work in both the vineyard and cellar is approached with minimalist precision.

The name "Les Horées" derives from Greek mythology. Catharina says there are many different interpretations, but she describes "Les Horées" as marking the change in seasons. The goddesses of the seasons are called "Horae" (hours).
The estate has 1.3ha in Aligoté, and Pinot Noir in Pommard, Volnay and Beaune but also purchases grapes from winegrowers sharing the same philosophy.
Officially a negociant but own 1.3 ha in the communities of Beaune, Pommard and Volnay. All vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically. Everything is done manually, with care, horse plowing following the biodynamic principles.
Native yeast fermentation in barrel and stainless steel tanks, with whole cluster inclusion for reds. Her parcels are vinified with no added sulfur. Aged for about 12 months in barrel.

Wines

En Coulezain

Bourgogne Aligoté from 0.37ha vines, majority 30 years old with a small portion of very old vines (about 100 years). Catharina owns the very old vines in Pommard (about 1/2 barrel) and the rest are located in Volnay (about 4 barrels).
Vinification: 1/3 skin contact for 5 days in 50L boxes, destemmed 2/3 directly pressed in basket press, whole bunch pressing Elevage 6 month in 350L used oak barrels. Indigenous yeast, no sulphur addition until end of malolactic fermentation.

Bourgogne Blanc Aganippe

Bourgogne Rosé Bonheur

100% Pinot Noir. Direct pressing, aged for about 7 months in stainless steel tank This is a one-off cuvée, produced in the difficult 2021 vintage. With a more uneven ripeness for this later, cooler vintage, Catharina decided to make a second cuvée from her parcel of Beaune Les Prévolles. The goal was two-fold: first, she wanted to only select the very best grapes for her red cuvée; and second, she took advantage of the opportunity and directly pressed a second selection to produce her first rosé. The result is lovely, breezy, vibrant and refreshing.

Le Vieux Sage

Bourgogne Rouge from 0.31 ha located between the villages of Pommard and Bligny les Beaune. Planted in the 1950s. Vinification: 80% whole bunches (but with a large portion of stems snipped off by hand). Native yeast fermentation for about 7 days in stainless steel tank. No sulfur added until after malo. Aged for 12 months in old oak barrels.

Monpoulain

Côteaux Bourguignon 40% Gamay, 60% Pinot Noir planted in the 1940s. The Gamay, located in Pommard is rented but farmed by Catharina. Pinot Noir is from purchased grapes in Cote de Beaune. Vinification: 100% whole bunches for Gamay & 50% for Pinot noir – vinified separately and without sulphur addition until end of malolactic fermentation Elevage 12 months in used oak barrels

Bourgogne Rouge En Gerlieu

From 0.9 ha in the relatively unknown area of Chassey-le-Camp, planted just next to the Aligoté on a hillside planted northeast (towards Beaune). Vines between 50 and 70 years old with low yields due to their poor health. 40% whole clusters and the couple pushed the aging a little longer than the other reds. Produced a more concentrated, deeper more textural wine.

Gevrey Chambertin En Reinard

Another cuvée produced from purchased fruit from the southern side of the appellation, east of D974, Vinification: 25% whole cluster, native yeast fermentation in stainless steel tank. Aged 12 months in older oak barrels.

Beaune Les Prévolles

Located on the southern side of the appellation, just below the 1er Crus. Vines planted in the 1970s. Purchased grapes in 2019 but Catharina started farming this plot biodynamically as of 2020. Vinification: 50% whole bunches and no sulphur addition until after malolactic fermentation and 12 months in used oak barrels.

Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Fichots

A cooler, late ripening site with northeastern exposure. Viticulture: Purchased grapes, biodynamic, plowed by horse. Vinification: 50% whole cluster, native yeast fermentation in stainless steel. No sulfur added until after malo. Aged for 12 months in old oak barrels.

Savigny les Beaune “Les Vermots”

Biodynamically farmed, 70 year-old vines

Les Horées