Michel is the son of Maurice Ecard, who was long a highly respected artisan winemaker in Savigny-lès-Beaune. As is all too often the case in Burgundy, the shift from one generation to another can be less than smooth and upon Maurice’s retirement in 2005, the family opted not to keep the domaine intact. Michel, who had worked beside his father for many years, decided to rent vineyards from his uncle and start his own domaine rather than struggle with siblings over vineyard rights. With a lifetime of winemaking experience at his father’s side in Savigny, not to mention stints at wineries around the world, it was no surprise that the quality remained excellent. If anything, they have a little more polish than before, which is a testament to Michel’s gentle touch. He currently farms 12 acres, all in Savigny-lès-Beaune. Everything is done by hand, almost all of it by Michel alone. The vineyards are plowed, yields are restricted, and always hand-harvested. It is very much a micro- operation, with Michel in the cellar and fields and his wife, Joanna, handling everything else.