Reflections
Tino Kuban Les Reipes: History, Culture & Price of the Cult Burgundy Aligoté
Rare Collects
Blog
Tino Kuban
Les Jardins Vivants
Les Reipes Blanc
A cult winemaker. A unique vision.
A wine like no other.
More than a wine.
A philosophy in a bottle.
Rare Collects
The Story
A New Generation
in Burgundy
Tino Kuban represents a new wave of Burgundian winemaking — thoughtful, minimal and deeply connected to the land. Originally from Berlin, Kuban trained at some of the world’s most respected estates, including Pierre Overnoy in the Jura, Dard & Ribo in the Rhône, Felton Road in New Zealand and Mullineux in South Africa — experiences that shaped his belief in natural winemaking and a terroir-first approach.
In 2018 he took over Bernard van Berg’s tiny 1.5-hectare estate in Meursault, renaming it Les Jardins Vivants. His mission is simple: farm organically, work biodynamically, and allow each vineyard to express itself with minimal intervention.
“I try to listen to the vines and let them speak. My role is simply to guide.”
— Tino Kuban
Les Jardins Vivants is a reminder that great wine is not just about appellations, but about people, places and purpose.
The Philosophy
Purity, Place and Patience
At Les Jardins Vivants everything is done by hand, in the vineyard and in the cellar. The wines are made with indigenous yeasts, spontaneous fermentations and long, gentle élevage in used French oak. Yields are extremely low, and every decision is made with the goal of preserving energy, balance and a true sense of place.
Kuban’s wines are not about power or extraction, but about precision, texture and emotion — bottles that capture the soul of the vineyard and the rhythm of the seasons.
The Wine
Les Reipes Blanc
Les Reipes is one of the most sought-after cuvées from Les Jardins Vivants. Made from old-vine Aligoté, this is not your typical Aligoté. The vines are planted on clay-limestone soils at higher elevation, with extremely low yields and meticulous farming. The result is a white of remarkable depth, mineral drive and tension — showcasing how serious and expressive Aligoté can be in the right hands.
Limited to only a few hundred bottles each year, Les Reipes has quickly become a collector’s wine, admired for its purity, complexity and individuality.
The Market
A Cult Wine with Global Demand
Les Jardins Vivants has developed a passionate following among collectors and sommeliers worldwide. With tiny production, a unique story and a winemaker whose reputation continues to grow, Les Reipes has become one of the most coveted Aligoté bottlings in the world.
On the secondary market, bottles of Les Reipes regularly trade in the €1,500 – €2,000+ range depending on vintage and provenance — a remarkable valuation for an Aligoté, and a testament to Tino Kuban’s impact on the modern wine world.