Winemaker Notes
"The 2021 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru is a blend of Combes, Les Castets, Créots, Charmois and Sous Roche Dumay, due to the frost damage depleting volumes in those climats, one or two barrels in most cases. It contains around 25% new oak. There is a subtle reduction at play on the nose, fine energy, scents of freshly sliced pears and a hint of quince. The palate is well balanced with impressive weight and a fine bead of acidity; the 2021 is quite tangy towards the finish with touches of stem ginger emerging with time. Not a huge amount of persistence, yet the combination of Premier Crus works well." Neal Martin, Vinous
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
Damien and Caroline may find a name to cover this blend of Charmois, Combes, Castets, Creots and Sous Roches Dumay. He likes the balance, more than in 2016 when they made a ‘3C’ blend. The five should total 60 barrels and have made 18 barrels. Mid yellow. The nose is attractively ripe with a certain creaminess. The blend seems to be working well. Fresh flavours now in the mouth, crystalline hillside shows more here, the lower ground more in the bouquet. This will be a sound choice. Drink from 2025-2029.
Barrel Sample: 90-93 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of premiers crus Combes, Charmois, Castets, Créot and Sous Roche Dumay, all of which were hit hard by the April frosts, the 2021 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru exhibits aromas of pear, sweet citrus oil and buttery pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive palate that's layered and chalky, with a long, penetrating finish.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
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.
A steep, upcountry basin (referred to as a combe in French) in the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, St. Aubin is a direct westerly neighbor to Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. Recent years have seen a boom in white wine production so that now Chardonnay accounts for more than three quarters of area under vine here. Two thirds of St. Aubin is classified Premier Cru (30 total vineyards); most notable include Les Charmois, La Chatenière, En Remilly and Les Murgers Dents de Chie. The Premiers Crus of St. Aubin, wrapping like a ribbon upon the southeast and southwest facing slopes, produce fresh and elegant whites from Chardonnay. When young, these tout a refreshing grip and convey qualities of white flowers, citrus, pear, green almond and wet stone. Given some age, a graceful evolution occurs so that older St. Aubin whites express richer aromas of beeswax, honey, marzipan and spice.