Wines Santenay Château La Charrière - Clos Rousseau - 2022

Viniou Reviews

Château La Charrière’s Santenay Premier Cru “Clos Rousseau” 2022 is an exemplary expression of Burgundian craftsmanship. Produced in the Côte de Beaune, this distinguished red wine is made exclusively from Pinot Noir, the celebrated grape of the region. The 2022 vintage benefited from a relatively warm and even growing season, leading to healthy, ripe fruit while retaining the signature freshness of Santenay. The Clos Rousseau vineyard, classified as Premier Cru, boasts limestone-rich soils with clay undertones, imparting elegance and a subtle mineral structure to the wine. Vinified traditionally, the wine undergoes gentle extraction and ageing in French oak barrels, lending a delicate spice and subtle toast while allowing abundant fruit purity to shine through.

Santenay itself sits at the southern end of the famed Côte de Beaune, an area renowned both for its graceful Pinot Noir reds and its vibrant, terroir-driven Chardonnays. The climate here is continental, marked by cold winters, warm summers and significant diurnal variations, ideal for producing wines of poise and complexity. Soils are predominantly limestone with varying amounts of clay and marl, which bestow the reds with a fine tannic weave and lift. Historically, Santenay has been prized for producing reds that beautifully balance structure and fruit, with a savoury, earthy character that distinguishes them from neighbouring appellations.

This wine lends itself particularly well to food pairing. Its vibrant cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle earthiness and fine-grained tannins make it an excellent partner for traditional Burgundian fare such as coq au vin, duck breast with a cherry sauce, or classic oeufs en meurette. Lighter game or roasted poultry, lentil stews or mushroom-based dishes also make delicious pairings, as do mature cheeses like Époisses or Comté.

For optimal enjoyment, decant the wine for 30 minutes to allow its bouquet to evolve, then serve at a cool 15-16°C to preserve both its fresh fruit character and underlying complexity. This Santenay Premier Cru will reward careful cellaring, but can be appreciated in its elegant youth over the next five to ten years.