David Moreau - Santenay 1er Cru 'Clos Rousseau' 2023

David Moreau is one of Santenay’s most up-and-coming producers. Having been fortunate enough to study under great wine estates including Beaucastel in Châteauneuf du Pape, Olivier Lamy and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy and a stint at Neudorf in New Zealand, he was more than prepared for the job of creating great Burgundy. He took over a portion of his grandfather’s domaine in Santenay in 2009 and currently farms nine hectares of mainly old-vine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay across Santenay, Meursault and Maranges, using organic farming methods. Most of his premier cru and village vineyards were planted by his grandfather in the 1960s and David has continued the meticulous care of them. Any fruit not making the cut is sold on and his wines are some of the finest in the appellation.

Maranges is the final limit of the Côte d’Or, and a source of crunchy, great value reds, if you follow the right grower. This is actually a blend of village and premier cru fruit (from 1er Cru Clos Rousseau), which David declassifies to give his village Marange more volume and quality. It’s a smart move, and a smart buy. It’s light-bodied, lithe, crunchy, juicy and vibrant

The name supposedly references the original vineyard owner, the Roussot family. Plantation density is 10,000 vines per hectare. Vines are trained into 75% Cordon de Royat and 25% Guyot.

Size: 0.75 ha (1.85 ac). Variety: Pinot Noir. Vine Age: Planted in 1987 and 1988. 

Vinification: 15% whole cluster, gravity transfer to concrete tank. Aged for 12 months in barrels (30% new), followed by 5 months in tank. SO2 added after malolactic fermentation and at bottling. Bottled on a fruit day, waning moon.

Producer: David Moreau

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Appellation: Santenay 1er Cru

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml