2023 Justin Girardin Santenay Blanc Les Terrasses de Bievaux

The 2022 Justin Girardin Santenay Blanc Les Terrasses de Bievaux is a refined white Burgundy that showcases the cooler, high-altitude side of Santenay. Crafted from Chardonnay grown on steep terraces, it offers a bright, mineral-driven expression that is both precise and generous. This cuvée highlights a lesser-known but increasingly sought-after terroir in the southern Côte de Beaune, where Chardonnay has been gaining recognition for its finesse and aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Santenay Blanc is a pale straw to light gold, with a subtle green hue that hints at its freshness and youth. The nose opens with citrus and orchard fruits—think lemon zest, ripe pear and crisp green apple—layered with white flowers, chalky minerality and a touch of fresh almond and subtle toast from élevage. On the palate, it is vibrant and focused, with a juicy core of citrus and stone fruit framed by a firm, saline backbone. The texture is finely balanced: enough breadth and creaminess from lees contact to coat the mouth, yet guided by a clean, mouthwatering acidity that keeps everything lively. Notes of lemon curd, crunchy pear, and a hint of hazelnut lead into a long, mineral-laced finish. Enjoyable now for its energy and purity, it should develop additional complexity—more nutty and honeyed nuances—over the next 5–7 years in bottle.

Production
Les Terrasses de Bievaux lies on high-altitude, terraced slopes above Santenay, where limestone-rich soils with thin topsoil and good drainage naturally limit yields and reinforce a strong mineral character in the wines. The cooler exposition prolongs ripening, preserving aromatic freshness and acidity. Grapes are typically hand-harvested to protect the fruit and allow strict selection in the vineyard and at the winery. After gentle pressing, the must is fermented mainly in a mix of oak barrels and vats, often with native yeasts, at controlled temperatures to retain precision and lift. The wine is then aged on fine lees, with limited new oak, to build texture and complexity without overshadowing the terroir’s tension and clarity.

Food & Serving
This Santenay Blanc is a versatile partner at the table, particularly with refined seafood and poultry. Try it with seared scallops, poached turbot, grilled sea bass, or oysters; it also shines alongside roast chicken with herbs, veal in a light cream sauce, or a mushroom and tarragon risotto. Classic Burgundian pairings such as Comté, Beaufort, or aged goat cheeses also work beautifully. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic detail. A brief 20–30 minute decant can help the wine open up, especially in its first few years, but is not strictly necessary.

Producer
Justin Girardin belongs to a long line of vignerons in Santenay, continuing a family heritage that spans several generations in Burgundy. Having taken the reins of the family domaine, he has focused on precise, terroir-driven wines, with careful work in the vineyards and a modern, thoughtful touch in the cellar. The estate’s holdings across Santenay and neighboring appellations allow Justin to showcase the diversity of the Côte de Beaune, and he has earned growing recognition for bringing a new energy to this often underappreciated village. His whites, in particular, are admired for their tension, purity of fruit, and transparent expression of their individual climats, helping to raise the profile of Santenay Blanc on the global stage.

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