Domaine Montagny is the name given by Cliff and Sharon Young. The property has also been known as Motte du Poil in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries; Domaine Marquis et Marquise de la Borde in the 17th century; and Maison Pignolet in the 19th century.

Real Estate professionals have stated that the valuation of 3.2 million euro is dependent upon provenance, level of renovation, proximity to Beaune, preserved country setting, the sheer size which provides protection from other building development, the luxurious gardens and landscaping, as well as the beautiful antiques and other haut-gamme furnishings.

Provenance
The Domaine has extraordinary and unusual provenance as well as historical importance.

The ownership can be traced to the year 1269 when the motte, or mound, and its vestiges were owned by the Commanderie of Beaune, an order of knights made up of the Templier and the Hospitalier knights. When the Chevalier Templier were killed in 1307 by the French king, Philip IV, the Domaine was owned by the Chevalier Hospitalier.

At this time, the Domaine was called Pylum, the name for the long Roman spear, a fact which suggests that weapons for the Crusades were fabricated during this period. 

The Domaine appears again in records in 1351, with the beginning of the Hundred Years War, as the site of the Chevalier Hospitalier, and again in 1452 and 1467, when the owner was the Comte de Charny, ne the Comte de Beaufremont, who held the largest tournament of armored knights in the history of medieval Burgundy and whose memorial stone rests near the head of the tombs of the Ducs of Burgundy in Dijon, France.

It was referred to on the Cassini map of 1789, which is interesting because that is the year of the French revolution. There is a small drawing of the Domaine on this map. The Domaine was mapped again by Napoleon in the year 1826 and the property plan is virtually unchanged today.

          

The Hundred Years War ended in 1452 and with it the use of the Domaine as a maison fortifie, or fortified house. For the next 250 years, until the French revolution, it was “all farming” as the historians put it. With the revolution, the ownership changed again, but the fertile lands continued to produce cassis and other fruit from the plains which stretch to the feet of the mountain range that became degraded to produce the Cote d’Or which always looms in view of Le Poil.

Location
Beaune is located in the geographical center of Western Europe. Private planes are welcomed at Longvic airport near Dijon, just 30 minutes from the Domaine. The TGV stops in both Dijon and Beaune and the A6 is only 10 minutes away.

The Domaine is five kilometers from Beaune (5 to 10 minutes) and yet sits in a perfect country setting which is preserved by law. This rare combination of rustic countryside, grand estate lifestyle and Beaunois proximity is a great joy of the property.

The area sits in Le Poil, one of the small hamlets which encircle Beaune like a ring of stars and are very desirable locations for aristocratic living.

The location is quiet, calm and filled with sounds of nature and is very secure.

Real Estate professionals have said that there are “no comps” for the property.


Wine and Cuisine
The Cote d’Or, so named by Louis XIV in honor of the golden leaves of the vines in autumn, is one of the world’s principal centers for fine wine and cuisine. 

Domaine Montagny is just 20 minutes from the greatest names in Burgundy, such as  Domaine Romanee Conti and Le Montrachet.  

Almost all of the Three-Star Michelin restaurants in France are located in Burgundy, Alsace and Paris. Those in Burgundy are Lameloise, George Blanc, Oiseau, Bocuse and Leon de Lyon.

Each year in the winemaking facility at Domaine Montagny, three barrels of wine are produced with grapes from Montagne de Beaune. Talented winemaker Terry Leighton produces Village-Pierre Blancs and Premier Cru-Choiceaux.

Dating back to the 17th century, the vaulted ceiling wine cave at Domaine Montagny is original to the property and has a capacity of 2,000 bottles.

The horsedrawn pressoir was made nearby in Pommard and has been used in the North Valley since the 19th century.

Level of Renovation
The Domaine includes a 7,000-square foot, three-story grand and fully renovated manoir, a 7,000-square foot rustically remodeled dependent building which currently houses an apartment for the on-premises guardian, a winery and storage, as well as a gardening room. In addition, there is a third building suitable for remodeling into a large dwelling replete with elements of the 16th century. This space is 2,000 square feet. The Domaine and all other buildings have ancient tile roofs and are made of immense oak beams, or charpente/poudres, and hewn limestone.

Real Estate professionals said they had never before seen this level of a remodel in the Cote d’Or. The remodel is founded upon all new plumbing, heating and electrical of the highest level. From a decorative standpoint, Sharon Gomez Young of the Gomez real estate family of Nob Hill in San Francisco, California, guided the important renovation with the counsel of Mark Roth and Jim Pfister, the designers to the Helmsley family of Manhattan. The manoir includes a beautifully appointed kitchen with a Lancanche piano stove and all small appliances necessary for grand cuisine. Next to the kitchen sits a stunning dining area with a period fireplace equipped with a medieval rotisserie and iron fire plaque emblazoned with Joan of Arc riding a griffon and the French king kneeling before her. The dining room table seats 12 to 16. There are laundry facilities and two guest restrooms adjacent. The magnificent salon boasts plafond Francaise of the period of the Hospices de Beaune (1436) as does the cuisine and dining room. The large salon has dalles, the original 12-inch deep limestone floors of the period. At the end of the salon is a spectacular staircase cut from a single mass of limestone from Chassagne.

Next to the salon is the current master chambre, which may serve as an elegant parlor. Upstairs are three magnificently appointed suites, each with salle de bain of the finest appointment as well as comparable toilettes. The salle de bains are appointed with local colored stone and Jacob de Lafond fixtures in brushed nickel. Also upstairs is the Tapestry Room which is the game and cognac emporium.

All drapes, duvet and headboards are handmade by a local master seamstress/artisan.

All Buildings
Buildings on the estate include a guard tower and bread (banal) oven dating to the 14th century, the manoir house dating to the 15th century, with all original beams and dale or stone flooring.

Inside the 7,000 sq. ft. manoir, décor is by Roth Pfister and Dr. Sharon Young, furnished to the highest level.

A 7,000 sq. ft. dependent building provides living quarters for servants and a guardian, a  tasting room, winery, large storage area and an upstairs area with original flooring and charpente ready to be developed.

Grounds and Landscape
The landscape was designed by Enterprise Jean-Cluade Pluyaut, the family who created the landscape of Beaune proper.

The Domaine has three acres of wild pasture, two acres of grass behind the manoir, and one acre of berries, potager and one acre orchard.

The potager and berry patch include gold and red raspberries, cassis, groseille and gooseberry. Each year, gardens are planted with heirloom tomatoes, leeks, carrots, greens and autumn pumpkin and squash.

Cutting gardens offer 20 varieties of long stem flowers which are floribunda and suitable for decoration in the manoir or for gift giving.

The orchard of 21 fruit-producing trees includes two dark plum, one Mirabelle, four black cherry, one Coeur de Pigeon cherry, one Griotte cherry, six pear and six apple.

The Zen Garden, with water element and ancient fireplace, sits inside an ancient wall and offers private access from the master suite.

The Domaine’s parks include 35 ancient trees, 100 rose bushes, 30 perennial herbs, sitting areas, pathways for strolling, picnic areas, a lilac forest, pond and picnic area.