Santenay

The colour here is a touch less dense than Clos Rousseau but that’s the nature of this beast – or, rather, beauty. There is very pure raspberry and cherry fruit, and it is extremely graceful and very long, with just a touch of spice. There is superb balance to this. A Santenay of great elegance.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Last year it was David Moreau’s “Rousseau” that really impressed me, but in 2012 it’s the Clos des Mouches that steals the show. Forget your preconceptions about Santenay, this is very serious wine, worthy of the more famous villages of the Cote de Beaune. Plenty of red fruit and a wonderful rich mouth-feel, wrapped up in a perfectly judged structure.
Chris Pollington - Private Account Manager

We have been buying from David Moreau since his first vintage in 2009 and are delighted to have found such a class act at the southern end of the Côte de Beaune. There were little bits of hail in 2012 here but nothing very serious compared to other appellations. David chose to harvest relatively late, around 27th September, with yields between 18 and 33 hl/ha.

This is a new cuvée for David, albeit from vines his family has owned for some time. The soil here is a touch deeper than in the neighbouring Premiers Crus, contributing extra weight to the palate without undermining the bright, red-fruit and floral aromatics that make David’s 2016s so enticing.

Half of the plots for this cuve are affected by court nou, whereby the length of cane between the buds is shortened, which reduced yields. There was also millerandage, which causes uneven development of the berries, requiring considerable selection at harvest. David wouldnt persist, however, if the result wasnt worthwhile. There is great purity of fruit in this wine and it distils much of the personality of Santenay, showing a certain rugged character, but with more caressing tannins than most. Drink 2020-2025. Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer David Moreau took over part of his octogenerian grandfathers domaine in Santenay in 2009. Prior to that, he worked with Olivier Lamy, Domaine de la RomaneConti, and at Neudorf in New Zealand. David now has seven hectares in production and has made significant changes in both viticulture and vinification. The vineyards were almost all planted in the 1960s, so David has old vines to work with. He will soon become president of the local vine-growers syndicat a measure of the regard in which he is held. Once again, David is very happy with this years results. There was very little frost damage this far south and all his wines performed well in our barrel tastings. There is a confidence in Davids winemaking that raises expectations for some outperforming wines from this lesser-known part of Burgundy. The purity and transparency of 2016 suits his range very well.

Late malolactic fermentation. Bright purple in colour with a raw youthful nose; much more backward. This is solid with significant weight but a bit clunky. Finishes well, just enough acidity.
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

To date there has not been a detailed geological survey of Santenay, something David intends to correct during his upcoming syndicat presidency. Such knowledge will further benefit his understanding of this vineyard, whose limestone and shallow soils contribute a certain austerity, spiciness and firmness of structure. This translates, however, into a fine, persistent and admirable finish, creating a wine of considerable personality. Drink 2020-2025.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

David Moreau took over part of his octogenerian grandfather’s domaine in Santenay in 2009. Prior to that, he worked with Olivier Lamy, Domaine de la RomanéeConti, and at Neudorf in New Zealand. David now has seven hectares in production and has made significant changes in both viticulture and vinification. The vineyards were almost all planted in the 1960s, so David has old vines to work with. He will soon become president of the local vine-growers syndicat a measure of the regard in which he is held. Once again, David is very happy with this year’s results. There was very little frost damage this far south and all his wines performed well in our barrel tastings. There is a confidence in David’s winemaking that raises expectations for some outperforming wines from this lesser-known part of Burgundy. The purity and transparency of 2016 suits his range very well.

David’s preferred Premier Cru is towards the southern end of Santenay. Glowing purple in colour, concentrated strawberry fruit is enlivened by a firm cherry thread. This is an energetic, heady wine with fresh fruit alongside the power. Drink 2020-2027.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

David Moreau is very happy with his 2015s, describing it as a vintage without stress. The grapes, picked from 7th September, were ripe but with acidity in balance and with an adequate yield for once. For the vinification, David used slightly more stems this year in the interest of structure and freshness, with a slightly shorter length of time in the fermentation vats. Very encouraging wines.

A dense, bright, dark red with delicious fruit on the nose, this is very classy. The nose is multi-layered with real density. There is a good acid balance to this, with an attractive admixture of new wood (30 percent) giving a touch of liquorice. This displays intensity but neither heat nor undue weight. Very succulent; a winner this year. Drink 2020-2027.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

David Moreau is very happy with his 2015s, describing it as a vintage without stress. The grapes, picked from 7th September, were ripe but with acidity in balance and with an adequate yield for once. For the vinification, David used slightly more stems this year in the interest of structure and freshness, with a slightly shorter length of time in the fermentation vats. Very encouraging wines.

Burgundy 2009 Best Buys - Premier Crus Wines
Santenay Grand Clos Rousseau 1er Cru shows an intriguing mix of slightly earthy but nicely pure fruit, with impressive richness and depth, and very pleasing ripe, slightly rustic tannins. This is a Santenay of real style and character.
(David Jones, Cellar Plan Account Manager)

Santenay, Grand Clos Rousseau, 1er Cru is new to Camille Giroud range, and set to be a longlasting favourite. This wine has sensual, smooth, ripe red fruit, with a little touch of chocolate to add complexity. Well-judged tannins are evident; this is a generous and appealing wine.
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Olivier replanted this vineyard with the best selection massale Pinot he could find. It has a lovely, fresh purple colour, with a beautiful, vigorous, brisk red fruit nose. There is plenty of substance on the palate, with fine grained tannins behind. Delicious!
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director

Olivier Lamy began harvesting early for certain plots (on 16th September) and then took the time to pick individual vineyards as they ripened. It proved to be a small but perfectly healthy vintage in St Aubin, with superbly concentrated wines. Olivier has decided to use very little new oak; 20% for his red wines and none for the white. The reds didn’t need much sorting and the colours and fruit extract came out very quickly in the fermenting vat. A great vintage chez Lamy but, alas, a very small one, though it is enhanced by the addition of one or two new vineyards.

This is the first vineyard to be harvested every year, with warmer soils, and it wasn’t frosted either. It offers a richer style, but with the freshness still pertinent. Olivier likes the maturity of the vintage, but feels it just needed more rain in August. Drink 2019-2023.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

There have been Lamys growing vines in St Aubin since 1640 – today the domaine is run by Olivier Lamy in succession to his father Hubert. Olivier ceased supplying négociants in 1997, grubbing up and selling off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. He has been experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture an even greater expression of terroir. Every single one of Olivier Lamy’s vineyards in St Aubin was completely frosted; only Santenay escaped. In a strange way, this was a benefit because, when the vines began to re-flower, they did so all at the same time and there was an homogeneity of growth and maturity. Furthermore, without two differently maturing sets of grapes to contend with, the crop made up the two-week delay imposed by the frost and Olivier was able to start harvesting in Santenay on 15th September, finishing his Bourgogne Blanc from his highest vineyards in St Aubin 10 days later. Olivier suggests the style is like a lighter version of 2014. Overall his production is down about one third.

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*
From the 2009 vintage, David Moreau took over part of his grandfather’s domaine in Santenay. Prior to that, he had worked with Olivier Lamy and Domaine de la Romanée Conti, as well as doing a stage in New Zealand at Neudorf. David made significant changes in both viticulture and vinification compared to the ancien régime. The vineyards were almost all planted in the 1960s so he has old vines to work with.

With its pretty, stylish nose, this is graceful, elegant and nuanced. It is a wine of finesse, compared with David’s more muscular, dense Clos Rousseau.

*Discount already applied to product price. No further discount will be applied at checkout.Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*
This is an exciting new discovery for us: David Moreau has taken over part of his grandfather’s domaine in Santenay and has produced wines there since the 2009 vintage. Prior to that, he had worked with Olivier Lamy and Domaine de la Romanée Conti, as well as doing a stage in New Zealand at Neudorf. David made significant changes in both viticulture and vinification compared to the ancien régime. The vineyards were almost all planted in the 1960s so he has old vines to work with. They are mostly pruned by cordon royat to minimise vigour, and the land is either ploughed or left with grass depending on the circumstance of a given plot.
*Discount already applied to product price. No further discount will be applied at checkout.

A favourite cuvée, made from 70-year-old vines. Fine, fresh purple with a delicate, poignant Pinot nose. Rose petals and other floral notes compliment the long and fine silky texture with just enough acidity. Elegance personified. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

David Croix picked relatively late for his reds, from October 3rd to 16th, but he wisely took the whites in first from 29th September to 2nd October. Overall he has been able to source more wine than for the pitifully small 2012 crop. These are beautiful wines, a marvellous expression of Pinot Noir, suited for medium term keeping.

Our other Premier Cru from David is selected as a contrast to the aesthetic lines of the Clos Rousseau. Grown on a 0.8-hectare plot, the initial impressions are of floral and red fruit perfumes, yet the palate is transformed by a delicious and mouth-watering minerality, entwined with ribbons of sweet cherry. The vineyard was wasteland until the 1960s, the last to be planted due to the challenges of farming the site. David’s grandfather saw its potential and so this wine has a place close to his heart. Drink 2020-2027.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

David Moreau took over part of his octogenerian grandfather’s domaine in Santenay in 2009. Prior to that, he worked with Olivier Lamy, Domaine de la RomanéeConti, and at Neudorf in New Zealand. David now has seven hectares in production and has made significant changes in both viticulture and vinification. The vineyards were almost all planted in the 1960s, so David has old vines to work with. He will soon become president of the local vine-growers syndicat a measure of the regard in which he is held. Once again, David is very happy with this year’s results. There was very little frost damage this far south and all his wines performed well in our barrel tastings. There is a confidence in David’s winemaking that raises expectations for some outperforming wines from this lesser-known part of Burgundy. The purity and transparency of 2016 suits his range very well.

This is a blend of Les Bras and Les Saunières, both of which touch Premiers Crus. The former is high on the steep, south-facing slope, while the latter is lower down on heavier soil, facing east. The combination yields a wine with juicy, red-berry fruit, sweet, crunchy tannins and just a lick of spice to round out the finish. Drink 2020-2025.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

In January 2002 Maison Camille Giroud was bought by an American consortium led by banker Joe Wender and winery-owner Ann Colgin, and a new chapter began. David Croix was installed as the winemaker/ technical director and tasked with a major revamping of the winemaking facilities and especially replacement and renewal of the old barrels to make wines in a much purer, more modern style. The company also owns 1.2 hectares of vineyards in and around Beaune. The 2016 vintage was a collaborative effort between the outgoing David Croix and his replacement, Carel Voorhuis, formerly of Domaine d’Ardhuy. The transition is a smooth one, with Carel’s gentle touch following on seamlessly from David’s elegant style. Carel described the 2016 vintage as lighter than 2015, with more elegance and better balance. It is clear he has a preference for 2016, highlighting the expressive, aromatic characteristics of the wines and calling them “ethereal”. He explained that it was important to avoid over-ripeness by picking in good time, and emphasised the value of gentle extraction to prevent obtaining hard tannins.

From the Clos des Roches Noires in the centre of this vineyard, there is an astonishing depth to the aromatics here, with hints of oriental spices alongside the classical Pinot fruit. The tannins are silky and refined; a classy wine with great distinction. Drink 2022-2030.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

In January 2002 Maison Camille Giroud was bought by an American consortium led by banker Joe Wender and winery-owner Ann Colgin, and a new chapter began. David Croix was installed as the winemaker/ technical director and tasked with a major revamping of the winemaking facilities and especially replacement and renewal of the old barrels to make wines in a much purer, more modern style. The company also owns 1.2 hectares of vineyards in and around Beaune. The 2016 vintage was a collaborative effort between the outgoing David Croix and his replacement, Carel Voorhuis, formerly of Domaine d’Ardhuy. The transition is a smooth one, with Carel’s gentle touch following on seamlessly from David’s elegant style. Carel described the 2016 vintage as lighter than 2015, with more elegance and better balance. It is clear he has a preference for 2016, highlighting the expressive, aromatic characteristics of the wines and calling them “ethereal”. He explained that it was important to avoid over-ripeness by picking in good time, and emphasised the value of gentle extraction to prevent obtaining hard tannins.