Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Vincent’s Chardonnay vines in Santenay Gravières (0.33 hectares) are planted in high-density fashion (>14,000 vines/ha), which have given spectacular results, with aromas that range from ripe pear to pomelo with hints of hay and beeswax. Vincent works with a high percentage of lees to obtain a seductively velvety texture and enable him to use a minimum of sulfur (only at bottling). This wine will drink well young and improve over the next ten to fifteen years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Santenay 1er Cru Les Gravières derives exclusively from Vincent's high-density plantings at 17,000 vines per hectare. Revealing aromas of orange oil, mint, fresh peach and white flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a satiny attack, racy acids and a more reserved, mineral-driven profile than the fleshier Beaurepaire. If the latter will be approachable young, this Gravières will demand at least a little patience. Rating : 93+
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
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.