Louis Jadot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2016 / 13% / 0.75 L

Maison Louis Jadot was founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot.The Jadot family had been involved in viticulture for some time (they had purchased the Clos des Ursules parcel in Beaune as early as 1826) and entered the wine trade (as négociants) by acquiring the Lemaire-Fouleux company.The vineyards managed by Jadot currently cover approximately 270 hectares in Burgundy, stretching from the Côte de Nuits to the Mâconnais, as well as in the Beaujolais region.Jadot emphasizes winemaking with minimal intervention, moderate use of new barrels, and careful extension of maceration to bring out the character of the terroir.In 1985, for succession reasons, the company was acquired by the Kopf family (which had previously been the sole importer to the U.S. market), but management and philosophy remained in French hands – m.in.the Gagey family.Additionally, it’s interesting to note that in 2013, Jadot expanded its wine-making ventures by purchasing a vineyard in Oregon (Résonance), which is its first project outside of Burgundy.

The vineyard where the Volnay 1er Cru “Santenots” is produced is located in the Côte de Beaune, in the village of Volnay, and the Santenots vineyard often borders Pommard vineyards—which is why wines from Santenots are sometimes referred to as “Santenots du Milieu” or “Santenots Blanc/Pommard,” depending on their exposure.The soils in Santenots are calcareous-clay, often mixed with gravel and clay—a combination that favors the Pinot Noir variety, providing a balance between structure and finesse.The vineyard that produced the grapes for the 2016 vintage has aging vines (about 50 years old)—which contributes to concentrated aromas and lower yields.

The Louis Jadot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2016 was made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes hand-harvested from the Santenots vineyard.Fermentation was carried out with a long maceration and moderate extraction, using wild (or semi-wild) yeasts, in order to preserve the terroir’s fruity character and the wine’s subtlety.The wine was then aged in oak barrels, with a limited proportion of new barrels, which helps prevent the woody aromas from becoming too dominant and allows the focus to remain on the purity of the fruit and the minerality.Its uniqueness stems from the harmony between structure and elegance—thanks to a carefully selected vineyard plot, the mature 2016 vintage, the length of the aging period, and a philosophy of minimal intervention—this wine embodies the subtle style of Burgundy, with aging potential.

Appearance

In the glass, the wine has a ruby-mahogany color, moderately deep, with subtle brick-red highlights at the edges.
Translucent, with subtle pigmentation, it conveys elegance rather than visual impact.

Aroma

The aroma is dominated by fresh cherries and delicate hints of raspberries, with a touch of forest earth.
Subtle hints of earth, delicate cedar, and a hint of violet emerge in the background, unfolding as the glass warms.

Taste

On the palate, the wine reveals balanced acidity, moderate tannins, and medium body, with fruit lurking at its core.
The finish features notes of truffle, a hint of spice, and minerality, which add finesse and length.

Culinary Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with roasted duck breast or goose, served with a red berry sauce.
It pairs just as well with game (such as venison) or delicate meat dishes in mushroom sauces, as well as aged semi-hard cheese.