Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
Mid lemon yellow. Again, the bouquet starts backward but only because of an excess of concentration. Linear intensity, a pure white fruit, growing in stature further back on the palate. A very light citrus wash, and amazing persistence. Barrel sample: 92-94
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Like Les Potets, the 2023 Santenay Les Vignes Denses also performs at a very high level this year. Unwinding in the glass with notes of pear, peach, white flowers and freshly baked bread, it's medium- to full-bodied, satiny and suave, with bright acids, lovely purity of fruit and a long, sapid finish. 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.