Didier Dagueneau
POUILLY FUME, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE
Definitely one to polarise opinion, Didier Dagueneau was one of the great winemakers of his generation. Sadly he passed away far too young in 2008, and his son Benjamin has taken over from his father making the wine and his sister Charlotte deals with the business.
A native Burgundian, Dagueneau's aim was to make the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, so he set up with 12 hectares of vines in Pouilly Fume. Many of his wines had an oak influence which clashed with the region's other winemakers who believe that wine should show a sign of place. He didn't follow rules and made wines the way he saw fit, either being traditional or experimenting with new ideas. His son is continuing the company in the way his father started it.