Santenots

Arnaud Ente is always one of the first to pick. His meticulous vineyard work and low yields encourage early ripeness, so in 2010 he could start on 15th September. The yield is much the same as 2008 and Arnaud notes similar acidity readings, but with much more flesh on the palate and finer aromatics. The label has also been fine-tuned this year and is now exceptionally handsome. Overall, these are breath-taking wines.

This is unquestionably Arnaud’s best Volnay yet. He has grassed over between rows to stress the vines and encourage whole berries, half of which were then fermented with whole bunches, but with less extraction than before. Deep and dense, it has a very exciting nose that is full of fruit, but without the rough edges of the past. Backed up by a very good acidity and excellent length, it is quite a muscular wine, but that suits Santenots.
Jasper Morris MW - Burgundy Director

Arnaud and Marie-Odile Ente have produced really concentrated wines in 2011, with the same yield as they enjoyed in 2010. The vineyards were farmed organically and the grapes were picked earlier than their neighbours, as usual, because the extraordinarily meticulous viticulture produced ripe grapes with the fine acidity that Arnaud cherishes. We also noted a clear step up in the quality of red wines this year.