Santenay ‘Les Champs Claude’, Domaine Benoit Girardin, 2022

An exciting new talent to add to the Honest Grapes roster, who is already making waves in France, and we are thrilled to introduce into the UK: The Girardin family claim thirteen generations of winemakers and Yves Girardin, like his siblings was given 3ha of vines which he subsequently grew to 21ha, purchasing the family property Chateau de de la Charriere in Santenay 2003.

His son Benoit created his own domaine in 2020, with 8 hectares of prime vineyards from his father’s holdings, including plots in Savigny-Les-Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault and Pommard. He started harvesting on 1st September as prefers balanced rather than too high acidity, and the grapes were 100% destemmed, with fermentations in steel, no pigeage, and the wines subsequently raised in 10-30% new oak. So far, so standard – there is nothing on paper which would make the range stand out… BUT there are some tastings which raise the level of energy in a room – and this was tasting was simply electric – the wines showing a sophistication, and silken elegance quite rare at this level, at once pretty but gourmand, precise and generous at the same time.

The whole range comes extremely highly recommended, these are wines to get in the cellar at the beginning of the domaine’s trajectory, whilst prices are attractive and allocations plentiful.

“0.6ha, of limestone-rich soils on the northern border with Chassagne Montrachet, touching the prestigious ‘Morgeot’ 1er Cru.
Replanted ten years ago with 50% Chardonnay, the vineyard was previously all Pinot Noir. An effusive nose of sweet meadow grass and cereal notes, with apple blossom, pear syrup and a touch of fresh ginger. The palate shows an attractive balance of lemony acidity, crunchy green apple and sweeter notes of stem ginger and cinnamon. Hugely appealing.”

Tom Harrow, Head Wine Guru