Domaine de la Croix Senaillet

The Domaine de la Croix Senaillet is located in southern Burgundy, in Davayé, in the heart of the Mâconnais wine region. The estate is close to the prehistoric site of the famous Roche de Solutré. Succeeding their father Maurice Martin in 1992, who devoted himself entirely to the vineyard from 1969 onwards, Richard and Stéphane Martin now run the estate, bringing new blood and new ideas, with a single watchword: quality.

The 26 hectares of Domaine de la Croix Senaillet are spread over a mosaic of more than 50 plots that are part of the "Grand Site de France" of Solutré-Pouilly-Vergisson. The vines, which are on average 40 years old, are exclusively planted with Chardonnay grapes. Most of these vines face the rising sun on gentle slopes that extend the eastern side of the Solutré and Vergisson rocks. The soil is marly limestone from the Middle and Upper Jurassic periods. Weathering produces clayey silt that can be carried down the slopes by runoff.

The Domaine de la Croix Senaillet vineyard is certified organic. Harvesting the grapes at optimal ripeness is one of the challenges facing the winemaker, as it determines the final quality of the wine. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes are gently transported by conveyor belt to the presses. This direct pressing is slow and carried out at low pressure to obtain the purest possible juice (= must) that best expresses the aromatic finesse of the Chardonnay grape variety. Before bottling, all the wines of Domaine de la Croix Senaillet are aged on their fine lees for 10 months, which gives them a smooth roundness and greater complexity.