Château de Santenay
This magnificent property, which dates back to the 9th century, is also known...
as Château Philippe le Hardi, as it was once owned by the first Duc of Burgundy. Philippe le Hardi is famous as the person who banned the cultivation of Gamay in the Côte d'Or, saying in his edict of 1395 that only Pinot Noir could be used in the production of red wines from the already fabled slopes. Despite its long history, the property had fallen on hard times until it was taken over by the French bank Crédit Agricole in recent years. They have invested heavily, bringing in a new team to support the general manager, Gérard Fagnoni, and putting the emphasis on quality. The property has 98 hectares of vineyard, 72 of which are in Mercurey. These are remarkably well made and good value wines from the Côte d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise.
Vineyards
The property has 98 hectares of vineyards, 72 of which are in Mercurey. The soils are rich in clay, but the limestone is still very present as well as some areas of marl. These characteristics give the red wines of Mercurey power and a beautiful structure
Vintage Information
The growing season in 2012 was a challenging one and yields were 20% down. Winter was mild and this was followed by a frosty and wet spring, threatening the vines with mildew and causing a very late and long flowering period. Thankfully a hot summer ensued allowing the berries to ripen fully, with harvest starting in mid September. Though yields and berries were small, the quality of the vintage was high, characterized by a very nice ripeness and great balance.
Vinification
In 2012, most of the fruit from their vineyards was hand harvested. On arrival at the winery, the grapes were cold soaked for 7 days at 8°C to extract colour and flavour from the skins. Temperature controlled fermentation lasted 12 to 14 days with daily pumping over, finishing with a rack and return, or 'délestage', to impart the grainy tannins that give the wines a lovely structure and length. The wine was then aged in oak barrels for 13 months, of which 20% were new, before being bottled in December 2013.
Tasting Notes
Dark ruby colour. Bright and lifted with excellent concentration. The nose is elegant with aromas of ripe red fruit including cherries and a touch of oak. The palate is full with great structure and an attractive chewy and grainy character. The finish is long and fresh.
Vintage Information
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Grape varieties | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Region | Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy |
| Winemaker | Gerard Fagnoni |
| Alcohol (ABV) | 13% |
| Acidity | 5.7g/l |
| Residual Sugar | 0.2g/l |
| Wine pH | 3.52 |
Trade customers
Liberty Wines customers can order this wine directly from us.