Critical Acclaim
WA 92 pt
Unwinding in the glass with notes of citrus oil, crisp green orchard fruit, white flowers and subtle hints of fresh pastry, the 2018 Saint-Romain Sous le Château is medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive, with a tightly coiled core, racy acids and fine concentration. As usual, this is one of the most complete wines in this range of Saint-Romain lieux-dits.
“The Buisson brothers’ 2018 Saint-Romain Sous la Velle has turned out brilliantly, wafting from glass with notes of mandarin, crisp Anjou pear, freshly baked bread and green apple. Medium to full-bodied and satiny but incisive, it’s deep and complete, with racy acids, fine concentration and a long, elegantly mineral finish. It’s one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from Saint-Romain.”
Vineyard Notes: Chardonnay is sourced from the south-facing Sous Le Château Parcel in Saint Romain, located under the ruins of an old castle. The vines benefit as the roots develop in very shallow soil, on hard limestone and tap between the faults. The average vine age is 15-20 years, trained in Guyot and planted at 10,000 vines/ha. Grapes are picked by hand in mid September.
Winemaking Notes: Fermentation occurs spontaneously in barrel. Grapes are 50% whole-cluster direct pressed and the wine is blended. The wine is aged from 10-12 months in a combination of barrels (10% new). Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in barrel in the spring.
Tasting Notes: This is the domaine's warmest, best-exposed parcel, which usually gives a quinine-drenched nose that combines the limestone power of La Perrière with the soil imprint of Sous la Velle, and the broad, almost viscous palate still delivers ringing acidity—a testament both to the Buisson brothers’ sensitivity and to the advantage Saint-Romain possesses in an ever-warming climate.
