Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Tasted straight from the cellar, this was a bit shy, but as the wine warmed up there develops a delightful aroma of raspberry fruit, violets and liquorice. The texture is tannic but elegantly ethereal. The grapes are from a parcel almost on the border with Chassagne Les Baudines (top of the slope); they are fermented with 15% whole clusters and a gentle extraction to emphasise the finesse of this lovely wine.
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Jasper Morris
Actually a paler colour than the village Santenay, but a finer fruit, alpine strawberry and light raspberry, with sound acidity and slightly more refined tannins. Slightly more whole bunch vinification for this wine, around 20%. Barrel Sample: 89-91
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
In the far southern end of the Côte de Beaune, Santenay forms a little notch that juts into the otherwise straight border with Côte Chalonnaise.
Santenay red wines show the true essence of red Burgundy at good price points and without demanding a lot of cellar time. Enticing aromas of rose-petal, violet, red fruits and licorice lead to sturdiness on the palate. With soils rich in oolitic limestone and marl, this is the home of well-constructed, hearty Pinot noir and represents a fantastic region to explore if you are just beginning your understanding of red Burgundy.
Reputable vineyards of Santenay include La Maladière, as well as the Premier Crus of La Comme, Clos de Tavannes, and Les Gravières.