Domaine Nicolas Rossignol : Volnay 1er cru "Santenots" 2017

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2017 from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep, intense ruby red hue.

Nose

The nose displays fine aromatic complexity, with notes of black fruit (blackcurrant, plum), complemented by smoky nuances and spices. Herbal touches round out this expressive bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a medium-to-full body, dense and fleshy. Chalky tannins lend elegant structure, bringing a lovely mineral tension. The wine unfolds gradually, revealing successive layers of flavor through to a long, expansive finish. Freshness perfectly balances the richness of ripe fruit.

Food and wine pairing

This Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2017 is an ideal match for roasted or braised poultry, notably duck, pheasant, or partridge. It also pairs beautifully with herb-crusted lamb, roast beef, or mushroom-based dishes. Aged hard cheeses also make an excellent pairing.

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2017 between 14 and 16°C. Decanting for 30 to 45 minutes before serving allows the wine to open up fully. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it will gain in complexity with cellaring through to around 2032.

A powerful, mineral Volnay Premier Cru from Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1997 by Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Nicolas Rossignol now spans around twenty hectares in the Côte de Beaune. A fifth-generation winegrower in Volnay, Nicolas Rossignol personally runs this family estate, which merged in 2011 with Domaine Rossignol-Jeanniard. Based in Beaune since 2017 in modern facilities, the estate produces around thirty different appellations. Renowned for its terroir-driven approach and the stylistic shift made in 2002, Nicolas Rossignol practices biodynamic viticulture and favors infusion vinification over extraction, seeking absolute balance in his wines.

The vineyard

The Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" comes from a climat of nearly two hectares, geographically located in the commune of Meursault but legally entitled to the Volnay Premier Cru appellation for red wines. The soils are clay-limestone, with varying proportions of iron oxide that lend a distinctive reddish tint. Nicolas Rossignol divides his plot into three distinct sections according to soil type: the upper part with stony soils close to Bathonian limestone, the mid-slope section with sandy-silty soils, and the lower part, richer in clay. This pedological diversity brings complexity and depth to the finished wine. The historic vineyard, documented since 1218, is farmed biodynamically with mechanical plowing and hand harvesting.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage in Bourgogne benefited from favorable conditions, with excellent sunshine and moderate rainfall allowing for even ripening. Warm temperatures encouraged good concentration in the grapes. Harvest took place relatively early, reflecting beautiful fruit maturity. This warm, generous year produced structured, concentrated wines.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2017 are hand-harvested into small eight-kilogram crates, then meticulously sorted on a vibrating table and by hand selection. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, with alcoholic fermentation lasting six to eight days. The proportion of whole clusters varies according to the plots and the vintage. The three sections of the vineyard are vinified separately before blending. Aging lasts ten to twenty months in French oak barrels, around 35% of which are new, on fine lees without racking. Malolactic fermentation begins naturally around six months after harvest. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration, following the lunar calendar.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir