SANTENAY 1er CRU GRAND CLOS ROUSSEAU 2023 Sylvain Morey

Description

Sylvain Morey Santenay 1er Cru Grand Clos Rousseau 2023: a unique terroir

The Santenay 1er Cru Grand Clos Rousseau 2023 is a single-vineyard cuvée from the Sylvain Morey estate in the Côte de Beaune. This Burgundy red wine is made from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from a massal selection. The plot, covering an area of 0.4065 hectares, is situated in the commune of Santenay, at an altitude of between 260 and 280 metres, and benefits from a south-easterly aspect. Its clay-loam-limestone soils contribute to the character of this climat, situated near the Maranges appellation.

Work in the vineyard and in the cellar aims to preserve the expression of the grapes and the terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand. For the 2023 vintage, around 70 per cent of the grapes are vinified as whole bunches, with the remainder destemmed without crushing. Fermentation is spontaneous and extraction is kept to a minimum. After blending the free-run juice and press juice, the wine is aged for 18 months on fine lees in 350-litre demi-muids, with 20 per cent new oak. It is then bottled without fining or filtration in February 2024.

The estate describes the 2023 vintage as generous and early-ripening, yet without any heaviness or overripeness. Despite a year marked by drought and high temperatures, the reds display fine balance. On tasting, this Premier Cru can be appreciated for its structure, its expression of Pinot Noir and its balance between ripe fruit and freshness. Serve it at around 16 °C, after allowing it to breathe in line with its development in the bottle. It pairs well with roast poultry, veal fillet, duck breast or a dish featuring mushrooms. The estate indicates a ageing potential of at least fifteen years.