Domaine Philippe Colin, Santenay 1er Cru 'Les Gravieres', 2019

Santenay is unusual for Burgundy. Why?

It's one of the few areas where the vineyards have a south-facing aspect. They get more sunlight, and you end up with quite a different flavour profile than further north, say for example, Cote-de -Nuits.

This makes for some unusual, and excellent, winemaking territory. You've got the cool climate, slowly ripening the Pinot Noir to perfection - but ample sunlight to ensure those fruit flavours fully develop.

There’s more gravelly soil here, towards the streams at the bottom of the slope; there’s active limestone underneath. This gives the wine a racy edge, and more sapidity. As with the red Chassagne, there’s a smoky note mingling with ripe berry fruit, edging towards blackcurrant. This has delineation and freshness from the limestone.

Domaine Philippe Colin employs traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques, including whole-cluster fermentation and aging in French oak barrels, to ensure the highest quality standards in their wines. Each step of the winemaking process is meticulously executed to preserve the wine's integrity and authenticity.