Santenay

The Santenay and Santenay Premier Cru vineyards are located on a terroir composed of grayish limestone soils at the top of the slopes, up to an altitude of 500 meters. Further down the slope, the soils consist of oolitic limestone, white oolite, marl and limestone nodules, with lower oolite on a marly level up to an altitude of 300 meters. The Santenay vineyards enjoy perfect exposure from east to south. 

The Santenay wine and Santenay Premier Cru is overwhelmingly a red wine made from Pinot Noir grapes. Its deep purple-mauve, black cherry color generally shines brightly. Its bouquet is reminiscent of rose petals, peonies, violets, and red fruits with a hint of licorice. On the palate, the attack is intense and deep. Firm, discreet tannins give it a supple, full-bodied structure with a very fine texture. Produced in smaller quantities, the Santenay whites are made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. The Roger Belland estate, like the Chanson Father and Son Estate are able to perfectly express the subtlety of the terroir in their Santenay wine.

Santenay, a Burgundy AOC worth discovering for the aromatic quality of its wines

The Santenay vineyard is located in Burgundy, at the southernmost tip of the Côte de Beaune, between the departments of Côte-d'Or and Saône-et-Loire. Santenay has been an appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) since 1937. Twelve climats (or lieux-dits) benefit from the Santenay Premier Cru appellation, while the others are classified as Santenay Village. The Santenay vineyard covers 330 hectares, on terroirs composed mainly of limestone and marl. It rises between 300 and 500 meters above sea level and its slope faces south. 

Approximately 90% of the appellation's wines are red and 10% are white. Santenay is made from two dominant grape varieties: Pinot Noir (for red wines) and Chardonnay (for white wines).

The characteristics of Santenay

On the house

Red Santenay has a beautiful purple color (black cherry or purplish ruby). White Santenay has a beautiful straw yellow color, clear and bright.

On the nose

Santenay red reveals the typical aromas of Pinot Noir through red fruits (raspberry, redcurrant, and blueberry). It then gives way to spicier notes (pepper, cinnamon), with floral (violet) or aromatic (mint and licorice) nuances. Santenay white, meanwhile, expresses itself through aromas of white flowers and citrus fruits, very characteristic of Chardonnay, finishing with notes of almond and toast.

On the palate

Red Santenay reveals round, fruity notes. Full-bodied and structured, it is a good wine for aging. White Santenay expresses notes of hazelnuts and ferns. It can be vigorous and full-bodied on the palate.

The premier crus of Santenay

The Santenay appellation, which covers approximately 330 hectares, has 12 climats (or lieux-dits) classified as premiers crus. Clos de Tavannes is a premier cru vineyard located at the northern end of the village of Santenay. It is one of the best premiers crus in the appellation. Given its relatively small size compared to the rest of the appellation's vineyards, Clos de Tavannes wines are highly sought after. Made mainly from Pinot Noir, they offer a beautiful tannic structure with spicy and fruity aromas. 

Elegant and structured, Santenay premier cru wines, such as the 2017 Clos de Tavannes, offer a beautiful balance between aromatic suppleness and tannic structure.

Food and wine pairing

Santenay red wine pairs beautifully with meat dishes such as roast veal, duck with green pepper sauce, coq au vin, and game. With a cheese platter, it goes well with Morbier, Pont-l'Évêque, and Chaource cheeses. Serving temperature: 15°C. 

Santenay blanc is suitable for fish dishes (such as trout with almonds) and pairs very well with seafood. Serving temperature: between 46 and 50°F. 

Accessible and fruity, Santenay wines are worth discovering for their aromatic quality and aging potential.