Straight from Les Santenons—one of the premier crus of Burgundy—arrives the distinguished Domaine Matrot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots, a red wine crafted by Domaine Matrot in Meursault.
One must journey to the heart of the Côte de Beaune, situated in the east of France, to discover the origins of this wine that springs from ancient vineyards, over 30 years old, within the area of A.O.C. Meursault. Specifically, this red wine hails from Les Santenots, a plot on the edge of this region, bordering Volnay, where white wine production prevails. Here, red wines are not typically prominent; however, Domaine Matrot raises the bar, asserting their presence more forcefully than ever, proving that their reds are indeed noteworthy. This winery, established in 1914, has profound expertise in nurturing the vines that flourish in this area on diverse soils, composed of marl and limestone from the Jurassic period. All are cultivated organically, with a commitment to environmental stewardship, and without the use of any chemical products.
Owing to this philosophy, implemented in 1976, Domaine Matrot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots is able to fully express its potential in the winery. The production commences with manual harvesting and the processing of the grapes in the winery, where the clusters are completely destemmed. This grape must is vatted and allowed to macerate at a low temperature for three to six days. After this period, Domaine Matrot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots will begin to ferment through the action of indigenous yeasts present on the grape skins. This process, lasting between 12 and 18 days, will culminate in the maturation of Domaine Matrot Volnay 1er Cru Santenots, which is conducted in two stages: the first, on its lees in French oak barrels; the second, once clarified, in stainless steel tanks before bottling.
As a general rule, Domaine Matrot does not adhere to a fixed winemaking methodology. Instead, they prefer to attune to the nuances of each vintage, adhere to the traditions passed down through the family, and discern in each moment what the wine demands.