2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Blanc Clos Faubard

2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Blanc Clos Faubard

2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Blanc Clos Faubard, Chardonnay from Burgundy, France

90-92 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

 The 2017 Louis Jadot Santenay 1er Cru Clos Faubard (Domaine Gagey) wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe citrus fruit, candle wax and smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and dense, with a chunky, structural profile, juicy acids and a long finish. (WK) 

Chardonnay is the world’s most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America.

Describing the flavors of Chardonnay is not easy. While many Chardonnay wines have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety’s intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavors. Because of this high level of winemaker involvement, Chardonnay has become known as the “winemaker’s wine”.

Louis Jadot is one of Burgundy’s most important negociants, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with a portfolio that covers everything from inexpensive Bourgogne and Beaujolais wines to several grand cru wines, from the Côte de Beaune to Chablis. Unsurprisingly, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay feature heavily in the portfolio.

The house was founded in Beaune in 1859 by Louis Jadot, although the first vineyard – Clos de Ursules – was purchased in the 1820s. The headquarters remains in Beaune, although vineyard holdings have increased exponentially.

Clos Faubardis a Santenay Premier Cru vineyard in the Côte de Beaune sector of the Burgundy wine region. It is planted to Pinot Noir (mainly) and Chardonnay.