AN AGE OLD TRADITION

Using stalked grapes, the Vieux Marc is dist../pages/alambic.htmlilled over an open wood fire, in an old copper still, manufactured in Marseilles in 1920. It is aged in oak casks (around 2000 l per year). A white Marc is distilled in small quantities. (200 l per year).

In 1900, Jean Siri is 15 years old, he comes from Piemont, can hardly read, works very hard, and walks his glance of intelligent teenager on a rural and hard world. 

He was employed in masonry when he discovered distilling. The home distiller installed beside the building site came from Aveyron. Mrs. Joséphine Boetti speaks about her father with tenderness and admiration. 

"One day the distiller died. Its heir said to my father: Jean, the owner considered to be you worthy to succeed to him, the trade does not interest me I yield the still to you, you will pay it to me when you can".

1918: Jean Siri returns from the war, and becomes the home distiller of Sanary. He settled then in the old slaughter-house of the city and created his distilling.

In 1920, Jean Siri put on the future and buys the most modern machine of the time: the rectifier still with plate. Bright burning coal new, superb, entirely worked in a red copper, the machine will be built in Marseilles.

For the inhabitants of the small port of Sanary the event will be serious and will excite the curiosity of all. The still will come by the sea, transported from Marseilles by "Pointu". It will be exposed on the quay during two days.

In 1929, the elder girl, Joséphine, feel attracted by this trade at the same time hard and dirtying. She will be the first woman of the area to exert it and this during 51 consecutive years.

In 1980, death in the heart, its health affected by the hard labour, Mrs. Joséphine Boetti yields her still to a family of vine growers, the Bunan family, owners of the Château La Rouvière in La Cadière.

The distilling of the old marc will find a servant qualified and impassioned in the person of Laurent Bunan, wire of the Master of the vineyard. Studying in oenology in Beaune during three years and, after a stay in the United States, Laurent took personally charges operation of it of the still.

For Laurent the manufacture of the old marc is a true art, supplementing multiple functions devoted to the Domaines Bunan which export in the whole world its Bandol appellation controlled.

"The still functions the 8 hours of the morning at 8 o'clock in the evening, in best of the cases, we can distil up to 80 liters of alcohol per day. Aged in oak tuns, marc (50 degrees) will make the delights of the experts who consume as it should be : with moderation ".

Thus the loop is buckled. Pressed grape, picked off, outgoing from the tanks of the domaine, will be born by the magic from alchemy from a "cauldron from copper" a nectar with the subtle bouquet.

Catherine Boetti is happy, the work of her father continues according to a tradition almost centenaire.