2020 SAINT-ROMAIN, Vieilles Vignes, Girardin. Burgundy

Saint Romain is one of less well-known villages in the Côte de Beaune. It’s relatively high up (behind Volnay and St Aubin) and produces a lighter, fresher style than its neighbours.

100% Chardonnay, matured for 14 months in 500 litre oak barrels (10% new)

In the words of UK agent, Girardin are: “a small to medium sized negociant business of the highest quality. They have contracts to buy fruit from 85 hectares (55 of which are controlled and harvested entirely by the Girardin team) and have 13 hectares in ownership or fermage.” The Girardin family quite recently sold the business to Jean-Pierre Nié, but he kept on winemaker Eric Germain (head winemaker).

In a warm vintage the ‘lesser’ sites come to the fore – shows a great balance of concentration and acidity.