Domaine Nicolas Rossignol : Volnay 1er cru "Santenots" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2021 from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a brilliant ruby red shading into garnet, reflecting careful vinification and optimal fruit management.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet opens on notes of smoked meats and plums, accompanied by warm spicy nuances. Delicate floral touches gradually emerge, evoking the violet character typical of Volnay terroirs. With aeration, aromas of candied strawberries, subtle mineral and vegetal notes, and a hint of cinnamon enrich the olfactory palette.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a medium- to full-bodied profile, elegant and refined, without excessive weight. The tannic structure stands out for its finesse and harmonious integration, delivering a delicate yet assertive presence. Dense tannins, characteristic of the clay soils of the Climat Santenots, provide a broad, evolving sensation that carries through to the finish. The natural acidity, preserved by the cool conditions of the vintage and the delayed malolactic fermentation, brings vibrancy and aromatic persistence. Overall, it shows remarkable balance between fruit, tannins, acidity, and structure.

Food and wine pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2021 pairs perfectly with roasted or braised poultry served with wild mushrooms. It also elevates duck with fruit, pheasant in a red-wine stew, as well as traditionally prepared feathered game. Dishes featuring noble mushrooms, such as porcini risotto or pasta with morels, also make excellent partners. Characterful aged cheeses, such as Beaufort or Comté, harmoniously complete this cuvée.

Serving and cellaring

The Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. About one hour of aeration in a decanter allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This vintage can be kept until around the mid-2030s, with its natural acidity and refined tannic structure giving it excellent aging potential.

An elegant, structured Volnay Premier Cru from Burgundy

The estate

The Domaine Nicolas Rossignol was founded in 1997 by Nicolas Rossignol, a fifth-generation winegrower, with an initial vineyard of three hectares spread across five communes in the Côte de Beaune. Following a merger in 2011 with the family estate Rossignol-Jeanniard, the property now covers around seventeen hectares and produces some thirty distinct appellations. Based in Beaune since 2016 in a modern, sustainable winery, Nicolas Rossignol manages his vineyards according to biodynamic-inspired principles, without formal certification, banning chemical herbicides and following the lunar calendar. His philosophy is to guide the grapes with delicacy, favoring infusion over extraction to reveal the authenticity of each Burgundian terroir.

The vineyard

The Climat Santenots holds a distinctive position: although geographically located in the commune of Meursault, it benefits from the Volnay Premier Cru appellation. Domaine Nicolas Rossignol’s parcels lie in the lower part of the Climat, at an altitude similar to the neighboring Ronceret. The soils are composed of white limestone and red clay, giving the wines pronounced minerality and a distinctive structural intensity. This clay-limestone composition, richer in clay than other Volnay sites, produces wines that are denser and more structured, while preserving the aromatic elegance characteristic of the appellation. The vines, aged from thirty to eighty-five years, benefit from an eastern exposure sheltered from westerly winds.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by devastating late-April spring frosts that significantly reduced yields. The cool, humid summer from late June to early August required rigorous canopy management to control disease. A milder autumn, with dry weather and beneficial day-night temperature shifts, allowed for gradual, even ripening of the remaining grapes. These conditions produced concentrated, elegant, refined red wines with bright natural acidity and surprising cellaring potential, despite their approachable character in youth.

Vinification and aging

The Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2021 harvest is carried out by hand, with bunches placed into small eight-kilogram crates. After rigorous sorting on a vibrating table followed by hand sorting, the grapes undergo destemming tailored to the terroir and the vintage. Fermentation starts spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts and lasts between six and eight days, with daily pump-overs adjusted according to tastings. Aging takes place in oak barrels for ten to twenty months, on fine lees without racking, with the proportion of new oak varying according to the terroir. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately delayed by around six months, taking place the following spring to preserve freshness and aromatic complexity. The wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir