From: Burgundy, France
Varietal: Chardonnay
Critical Acclaim
JS 91 James Suckling
A bright, lemony white with lemon-curd and light yogurt character. It’s medium-bodied with a medium round palate and lovely fruit. Drink and enjoy.
90 Points
Wine Advocate
January 16, 2020
The 2018 Santenay Clos de Malte (Domaine Louis Jadot) is showing well, revealing aromas of waxy citrus rind, pear, white flowers and toasted almonds. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and precise, with a chalky, nicely defined finish.
– William Kelley
Taste: This pretty (and affordable!) 2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc shows off a structured and elegant profile. With a bright, lemony aroma and notes of waxy citrus rind, pear, white flowers, and toasted almonds, the wine is medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural, and precise, with a chalky, nicely defined finish.
Pairing: This wine, with its supple yet chiseled palate, hints of earth and citrus peel, plus bright acidity, is ideally suited as an aperitif or paired with casual summer cuisines such as most seafood appetizers or entrées (like the one listed below), salads, ceviche, or poultry.
Turkish-Spiced Halibut Skewers With Yogurt Sauce
By David Tanis
About. There is a wealth of history behind the name Louis Jadot, a name etched into the winemaking annals since the family, then vignerons, acquired their celebrated Clos des Ursules in 1826. The house was officially founded in 1859 and has since blossomed under the astute management of Pierre-Henri Gagey and the indomitable head winemaker Jacques Lardière.
Domaine Louis Jadot boasts over 60 hectares of vineyard, many being premier and grand cru, and Jacques Lardière has one of the most respected winemakers working in Burgundy today. The domaine vineyards belong to various entities: Domaine Louis Jadot itself, Les Héritiers de Louis Jadot, Domaine André Gagey, and, on farming contracts, Domaine dela Commaraine and Domaine du Duc de Magenta.
Lardière's winemaking philosophy is compelling, underpinned by a desire for minimal intervention and unwavering faith in the natural course of winemaking. He nurtures the belief that every intervention is a closing of a door rather than an opening. He intends to guide the wine in its own time and pace, from the vat to the barrel.
The 2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc is a quintessential example of this approach. Sourced from the vineyards of Santenay, this wine is not just another Maison label. It's a Domaine wine, born of their vineyards, devoid of farming contracts or purchased fruit, and showcases what Domaine Louis Jadot can offer.
With its lemony aroma and woodsy undertones, this beautifully structured wine exhibits an elegant, balanced palate that will develop over 5 to 10 years. Its finely honed qualities speak volumes of the winemaking finesse of Lardière, who often partially blocks the malolactic fermentation in white wines to maintain acidity and finesse.
Lardière's winemaking acumen isn't the sole factor in the success of the 2018 Domaine Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc. The vineyard, Clos de Malte, is a natural amphitheater with a steep slope providing excellent exposure. The plot is primarily planted with Pinot Noir on moist limestone and clay soil, with a small parcel of Chardonnay, as exampled here.
The 2018 growing season has proved turbulent, with soil moisture scarcity and a poor fruit set diminishing the harvest volume. But despite these challenges, Frédéric Barnier, Jadot's technical director, ensured that the quality remained paramount. The outcome is a wine of character testament to the outstanding winemaking expertise and vineyard stewardship at Domaine Louis Jadot.
