Vincent Girardin : Volnay 1er cru "Les Santenots" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" 2024 by Vincent Girardin

Tasting

Appearance
The colour reveals a beautiful ruby to deep ruby hue, which may develop delicate tawny nuances over the years.

Nose
Fine and expressive, the aromatic bouquet opens with seductive notes of red fruit, largely dominated by cherry. The whole is elegantly enhanced by touches of sweet spice, notably cinnamon.

Palate
Opulent and charming, the palate offers generous volume supported by a melted structure. Highly complex, it stretches out over a long, persistent finish, carried by fruity and spicy flavours as well as a tangy backbone that preserves a lovely freshness.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with fine cuts of expertly prepared red meat, game birds or slow-cooked dishes in a subtly spiced wine sauce. It also makes a very harmonious match for soft, flowery-rind cheeses such as Brie, Chaource or Reblochon.

Serving and Cellaring

With excellent ageing potential, this Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" 2024 is a true wine for laying down, which will develop its full complexity and soften its tannins with time.

The Elegance and Complexity of a Great Red Wine from the Côte de Beaune

The Estate

Founded in 1980 by Vincent Girardin with two hectares of family vines, the eponymous house has become an essential reference in Burgundy, France. Based in Meursault, it skilfully combines estate winemaking with bespoke négociant activities. Sold in 2012, the estate now belongs to the Compagnie des Vins d'Autrefois. Under the technical direction of oenologist Éric Germain, the house upholds a demanding philosophy, combining practices inspired by biodynamics with technical precision to reveal the purity of the region's finest terroirs.

The Vineyard

Although geographically located in the commune of Meursault, the parcels for this cuvée fall within the Volnay appellation area for the production of red wines. Planted in the climats "Plures" and "Blancs", these very old vines, around 85 years old, thrive on a steep slope that promotes excellent drainage. The terroir consists of marl-limestone soils mixed with red clay. The vineyard is managed with a high level of environmental commitment, including Guyot Poussard pruning, rigorous canopy management and exclusively hand-harvested grapes.

Vinification and Ageing

After meticulous sorting in the vineyard and then on a sorting table at the winery, the grapes are mostly destemmed, although a small proportion of whole bunches may be retained. A cold pre-fermentation maceration of a few days precedes fermentation in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperature, with regular punching down and pumping over. After gentle pressing, the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" 2024 is aged for approximately 15 months in oak barrels, about 30% of which are new, during which time malolactic fermentation takes place. The blending is carried out in tank one month before bottling. Bottling takes place in accordance with the lunar calendar, on a "root" day, with a light lenticular filtration and no fining whatsoever.

Grape Variety

This wine is made exclusively from Pinot Noir.