Winemaker Notes
Clos de Malte white is typically a more linear-structured wine with nice tension and energy, little initial creaminess, and with a framework ideal for aging. After just a few years one senses the presence of these stony (limestone) soils, supported by hints of citrus skin and grapefruit pith plus a delicate roasted nut grace note.
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Jadot's white from its holdings at the top of the slope in Santenay is easy to love, with forward aromas of ripe apples, pears and a hint of white flowers. As technical director Frédéric Barnier explains: 'The whole task is to keep the freshness and balance. We blocked the malolactic conversion and won't go too far on the elevage.' His tactics seem to have worked. Although the wine is marked at present by the cask ageing (one-third new), this should be ready to drink at bottling.
-
Jasper Morris
A glowing fresh pale yellow. The nose is almost buttery, but then the acidity on the palate refreshes, and the combination makes for an extremely enjoyable wine, with more flesh than one would expect from this altitude. Broader in style than 2022.
-
James Suckling
Attractive toasty and nutty aromas are married to generous candied citrus fruit on the silky, medium- to full-bodied palate. The bright, flinty acidity gives this excellent energy. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromas of peach, pear, orange zest and toasted nuts introduce the 2023 Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc (Domaine Louis Jadot), a medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless palate that's charming and expressive. It's another solid performance for this reliable bottling.
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.