History:
TONNELLERIE BILLON SA was founded in 1947 by Gaston BILLON and is located in Beaune Burgundy. The cooperage was purchased by the Damy family to become the sister cooperage of Meursault's Tonnellerie DAMY. Positioned in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuit's largest city; Beaune, the cooperage has built a strong reputation amongst BurgundToday
Tonnellerie Billon annually produces around 10,000 barrels a year and has 2 hectares dedicated for wood seasoning, 2 hectares for barrel production, and a 4,000 square meter shop workshop that employs 20 coopers. The current CEO of the cooperage, Vincent Damy was awarded the prestigious "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" title in 2007 and overseas production at Tonnellerie Billon. y chardonnay and pinot producers.
Today:
Tonnellerie Billon annually produces around 10,000 barrels a year and has 2 hectares dedicated for wood seasoning, 2 hectares for barrel production, and a 4,000 square meter shop workshop that employs 20 coopers. The current CEO of the cooperage, Vincent Damy was awarded the prestigious "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" title in 2007 and overseas production at Tonnellerie Billon.
The Cooperage:
Tonnellerie Billon located in Beaune represents a state-of-the-art cooperage equipped with the most up-to-date Monnot cooperage machines. Oak is sourced from 10 different stave mills including longtime partner, Merrains du Jura located in the Jura region of France. To reduce its carbon footprint, the cooperage is involved in local forest replanting initiatives with partner Pépinières Naudet but is also planting different species of trees around the cooperage to encourage biodiversity in its wood park. All remaining bits of wood scraps are used to heat the cooperage during the winter in a furnace.
Range:
The Billon traditional range includes French oak and acacia forest-origin barrels and puncheons (115L - 820L) where the level of air-dry (2-Y up to 5-Y) can be selected along with the toasting profile that includes: L, LL, Chauffe 180 min, M, ML, M+ and Heavy. However, following years of research and collaboration with selected Domaines, Billon also offers an "Innovation Range" of barrels that are based either on grain tightnesses, forest blends, steam bending, and toasting profiles done only over embers.
Why Tonnellerie Billon?
Tonnellerie Billon is one of the most traditional and historical cooperages in Burgundy. Located in Beaune, the cooperage is near the Côte de Beaune's most famous chardonnay producers and the Côte de Nuits' most famous pinot noir producers. Billon barrels have traditionally offered a stunning ability to respect the wine and be true to the varietal by showcasing the fruit on the nose and palate. What Billon barrels do contribute to the wine is a subtle aromatic savoriness and slight structure with lots of length, verticality, and an enhanced mineral finish on the palate.
