Santenay Premier Cru Rouge, Les Gravières, Vincent Girardin, 2018 - Half-bottle
Santenay Premier Cru Rouge, Les Gravières, Vincent Girardin, 2018 - Half-bottle
- Red Still
- 37.5CL
- 13.5%
- Biodynamic
- Pinot Noir
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Having started with a tiny 3ha back in the 80s, Vincent Girardin now owns 14ha of enviably sited parcels, with another 19ha on lease, and this is practically the first in-house vintage for the Domaine.
Head winemaker Eric Germain's steady conversion to biodynamics, earlier picking, reduced usage of new oak and earlier racking into neutral barrels all mean the focus is on terroir expression & energy, and the results are nothing short of profound. The wines are lithe and vibrant, with marked freshness, yet extra richness and concentration.
"Perfect example of what can be achieved in these satellite villages. Very smooth, silky red with purity and elegance. Oodles of red fruit with impressive concentration and purity that has herbal notes and sweet spice emerging on the finish. There is depth and charm wrapped in a warm generous mouthfeel."
Our note
This is currently showing beautifully with primary red fruit character well-integrated with subtle oak and emerging secondary complexity. Over the next 2-3 years, expect this wine to develop more pronounced earthy and mineral characteristics as the fruit moves from primary to secondary flavours. The wine should reach its peak between 2028-2032, showing full tertiary development with forest floor, leather, and spice complexity. Beyond 2035, the wine may begin to show signs of decline, though the half-bottle format may accelerate this timeline slightly due to the cork-to-wine ratio.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright ruby red with garnet highlights, clear and luminous in the glass.
NosePure red cherry and wild strawberry emerge first, followed by violet petals and dried herbs. Subtle earthy undertones of forest floor and wet limestone develop with aeration, alongside a delicate spice from judicious oak integration.
PalateSilky and refined texture carries concentrated red fruit flavours with impressive purity and focus. The mid-palate reveals layers of dried rose petals, crushed herbs, and mineral tension that speaks directly to the limestone terroir. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without overwhelming the wine's inherent elegance.
FinishLong and persistent with lingering red fruit, warm spices, and a distinctive mineral lift that leaves the palate refreshed.
Overall impressionA textbook example of modern Burgundy winemaking that honours traditional terroir expression whilst delivering remarkable purity and energy.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy's countryside around Santenay, vignerons traditionally pair their premier cru Pinot Noirs with the region's celebrated coq au vin, where the wine's acidity cuts through the rich sauce whilst complementing the herbal aromatics. Local charcuterie featuring jambon persillé and andouillette sausages provide classic matches, as do the area's wild game dishes including rabbit with mustard and venison stews. The mineral backbone of Santenay wines pairs beautifully with Chaource and Époisses cheeses, whilst the wine's elegance complements delicate preparations of Charolais beef. During harvest season, vignerons often enjoy these wines alongside simple roasted chicken with herbs from their kitchen gardens.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-18°C to allow the wine's aromatics and texture to fully express themselves. Decanting for 30-45 minutes will help integrate the wine's components and allow subtle earthy characteristics to emerge. Use large Burgundy bowls to concentrate the delicate aromatics whilst providing adequate surface area for proper aeration. The half-bottle format makes this ideal for intimate dinners where a full bottle might be excessive.
Les Gravières sits on the limestone-rich slopes of Santenay's finest premier cru sites, where shallow topsoils over bedrock force vines to dig deep for nutrients. The vineyard's east-southeast exposure captures morning sun whilst avoiding excessive afternoon heat, creating ideal conditions for Pinot Noir to ripen slowly whilst retaining natural acidity. The gravelly, well-draining soils give the climat its name and contribute to the wine's mineral backbone and elegant structure.
Santenay Premier Cru represents the southern frontier of Burgundy's Côte d'Or, where cooler temperatures and later ripening produce Pinot Noirs with distinctive freshness and finesse. Les Gravières ranks among the commune's top premier cru vineyards, consistently delivering wines that combine Santenay's characteristic mineral precision with surprising depth and complexity. These wines offer exceptional value compared to their more famous northern neighbours whilst maintaining genuine premier cru quality and ageability.
The 2018 growing season in Burgundy delivered a near-perfect combination of warm temperatures and well-timed rainfall that growers had been hoping for after several challenging years. Spring arrived early with minimal frost damage, followed by a hot summer that required careful vineyard management to maintain freshness in the grapes. Crucially, cooling nights and occasional rain showers in August and September prevented over-ripeness whilst allowing phenolic maturity to develop gradually. Harvest began in late August under excellent conditions, with healthy grapes showing concentrated flavours and balanced acidity.
The vintage produced wines of exceptional quality across both colours, with many producers considering 2018 among their finest recent efforts. Pinot Noir displays remarkable depth and structure whilst retaining Burgundy's hallmark elegance, showing rich fruit character balanced by fine tannins. Chardonnay achieved beautiful concentration without losing its mineral precision, particularly impressive in premier and grand cru sites. The wines show excellent ageing potential, with village-level reds drinking beautifully now through 2030, whilst premier and grand crus will reward cellaring for 15-20 years. The whites are already showing their class but will develop further complexity over the next decade.
FAQs
Why choose a half-bottle over a full bottle?
Half-bottles are perfect for intimate occasions or when you want to enjoy aged Burgundy without committing to a full bottle. They also age slightly faster due to the cork-to-wine ratio, making this 2018 drinking beautifully now whilst a full bottle might benefit from further cellaring.
How does Santenay compare to more famous Burgundy appellations?
Santenay sits at the southern end of the Côte d'Or, producing wines with distinctive freshness and mineral precision. Whilst less renowned than Gevrey-Chambertin or Vosne-Romanée, premier cru sites like Les Gravières deliver exceptional quality at more accessible prices, often representing outstanding value for serious Burgundy lovers.
What makes Vincent Girardin's approach distinctive?
Eric Germain's winemaking emphasises terroir expression through biodynamic practices, earlier picking to retain freshness, reduced new oak usage, and earlier racking into neutral barrels. This approach yields wines that combine the energy and purity of modern Burgundy with traditional mineral expression.
Is this wine ready to drink now?
Yes, this 2018 is drinking beautifully now, showing excellent integration of fruit, oak, and developing secondary characteristics. It will continue to evolve positively until around 2035, though the half-bottle format may accelerate development slightly.
How should I store this wine?
Store on its side in a cool, dark place at 12-14°C with consistent temperature and humidity. The half-bottle format makes it slightly more susceptible to temperature fluctuations, so stable storage conditions are particularly important for optimal development.
What food pairings work best with this style?
The wine's silky texture and mineral backbone pair excellently with roasted poultry, pork tenderloin, or mushroom-based dishes. Its Burgundian character also complements soft cheeses like Brie or Chaource, whilst the acidity cuts through richer preparations beautifully.
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