SANTENAY, France – Nestled in the heart of the southern part of Burgundy, the picturesque village of Santenay is a testament to nature’s artistry, with stone structures gracing its narrow, winding streets and cobblestone roads that wind through its charming lanes. A sense of timelessness pervades this tranquil locale.
As you venture beyond the village limits, climbing the meandering gravel roads that hug the hillsides, you’ll encounter stone walls that stand chest-high on either side of the path. These stone barriers serve as a gateway to an enigmatic world of terroir, where the soil is richly adorned with a mosaic of stones, from golf ball-sized, light-red rocks strewn among the vines to a subterranean realm of diverse stones, soils, and subsoils.
In Santenay, these stones play a pivotal role in shaping the wines, infusing them with distinct and delightful flavors. These wines exhibit a unique character, offering hints of flintiness intertwined with floral notes, an earthy essence married to elegance. The mist and fog that gracefully envelop the vineyards and nearby hills during the early hours of the morning also contribute to this terroir’s complexity.
While Santenay may not enjoy the same global recognition as neighboring winemaking villages like Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy’s renowned Cote De Beaune subregion, it is undoubtedly a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
During my recent visit earlier this year, I had the privilege of tasting an array of wines from three distinct wineries in Santenay. Remarkably, many of these wines are priced below $50 a bottle, representing remarkable value by Burgundy standards. What stands out, however, is the consistent excellence that permeates every sip.
This week, we delve deeper into the world of winemaking in Santenay, with a special focus on Domaine Jessiaume. I had the pleasure of partaking in an exclusive tasting session with William Waterkeyn, the esteemed head winemaker at Domaine Jessiaume. Join us as we explore the artistry of Santenay’s wines, uncovering the secrets that make them treasures worth savoring.
